State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu Wednesday inaugurated the sale operations of onion, imported from India, at a function in front of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) Bhaban in the capital.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Ahsanul said Bangladesh got onion from India due to its friendly relations with this neighboring country.
"But, it took some time to lower the price....I thank the Indian Commerce Minister for giving us onion despite facing various internal challenges," he said.
Mentioning that his ministry has been working to enhance the supply of commodities in the market, Ahsanul said efforts would be there to bring in the rest of the consignments of onion from India in phases.
He said that such sale operations of onion in Dhaka and Chattogram would help to reduce the price of such essential item elsewhere in the country.
Answering to a question, Ahsanul informed that the Ministry of Commerce has been working to frame agreements with countries like Myanmar, Russia and Brazil to import essential items.
While speaking as special guest, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh said that such import of onion is a result of the trade diplomacy of the government.
He also hoped that there would be special quota for Bangladesh even if India imposes any export ban.
Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) AHM Shafiquzzaman also spoke at the event.
Some 1,650 out of 50,000 metric tons of onion have already arrived in the country from India while such onion would be sold at Taka 40 per kg in Dhaka, Chattogram and Gazipur cities.
TCB chairman Brigadier General M Ariful Hasan, TCB additional director Khandaker Nurul Haque, Mohammad Robiul Morshed and ward councilor Shamim Hasan, among others, were present on the occasion. —BSS
