The price of onions has risen at the Hili land port in Dinajpur by Tk 10 per kg in a single day. A day earlier, each kg sold for Tk 100, which is now Tk 110. Local onions are selling for Tk 120. Traders believe that once India withdraws the ban on onion export in November, the price may become normal.
Shariful Islam, a buyer at Hili market, says: “The price is rising every day and the general people are suffering. There’s no control on the market and the government’s price reducing plans are in effective.”
An onion trader Monir Hossain, adds: “Referring to onion crisis and price hike, India stopped onion export indefinitely; before the suspension, India used to export 1,000 tonnes of onions; though a promise was made to export after Durga Puja, only 50 tonnes were exported.”
“We will be able to take onions against Letter of credit (LCs) made earlier; talks are underway with Indian traders and, hopefully, the embargo will be lifted by end November; however, once local onions come to the market, the price will fall,” he added.