‘Bangladesh wants to reduce dependence on Indian onion’

The Indian government has been requested to issue minimum one month’s notice to Bangladesh before imposing ban on onion export, said Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Thursday.

Besides, he said Bangladesh wants to be self-sufficient in onion production within the next three years reducing its dependence on import from India.

He was talking to journalists following an opinion-sharing meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Bikram Kumar Doraiswami at the Commerce Ministry on Thursday.

The Commerce Minister said the price of potato has gone down somewhat. The price of potato fixed by the government will be effective within the next two to three days.

Tipu Munshi said Bangladesh has been importing onion from Turkey, Egypt, China and Myanmar after India imposed ban on export. But, the imported onion costs Tk 45 per kg  to bring at Chattogram Port. Later, it cannot be sold below Tk 60-65 per kg in the retail market. Price of onion would not be available below Tk 55 till next year.