Director General (DG) of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) AHM Shafiquzzaman today said DNCRP would continue to monitor the market strictly so that no unholy businessman can manipulate the price of onion or hoard excessively such essential item showing any excuse.
"Drives are also being carried out at the smaller kitchen markets alongside the larger kitchen markets across the country. Such market monitoring will continue so that no unholy businessman can manipulate the market. There is sufficient stock of onion in the country. So, strict action will be taken if anyone attempts for market manipulation," he said.
Talking to BSS, he said the Directorate has been conducting drives in various kitchen markets across the country including at Khatunganj in Chattogram, at Kawranbazar and Moulvibazar in the capital.
In the drives, the concerned officials are specially looking for any mismatch in the price lists.
Shafiquzzaman said they are also monitoring whether the supply of such essential item is normal or not side by side the wholesalers are conserving the buying slips from the importers in a proper manner or not.
Meanwhile, the government has recently decided to allow the import of onions from nine other countries in addition to neighboring India.
The development comes after the Indian government on August 19 imposed a 40 percent export duty on onions, with immediate effect, up to December 31 in an attempt to dampen local prices.
Bangladesh can now import 2,400 tonnes of onion from China, 3,910 tonnes from Egypt, 11,820 tonnes from Pakistan, 1,100 tonnes from Qatar, 2,110 tones from Turkey, 200 tonnes from Myanmar, 33 tonnes from Thailand, four tonnes from Netherlands and three tonnes from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
So far, some four lakh tonnes of onion have arrived in the country since being granted permission to import 13.73 lakh tonnes on June 5 this year.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the annual demand for onion in the country is 25 lakh tonnes whereas the annual local production hovers around 18 to 19 lakh tonnes. The rest of the demand is being met through imports.