2,000 tonnes of onion imported through Chattogram port

Meghna and BSM groups today imported around 2,000 tonnes of onion – of which Meghna Group imported 30 containers of onion in one ship and BSM Group imported 39 containers of onion in three ships through the Chattogram port.

Businessmen believe this is the largest shipment of onion imported in the past two months and it is speculated that onion prices may return to normalcy in the kitchen markets afterwards.

Another BSM Group shipment of 20 containers of onion from China arrived at the Chattogram port on Monday.

Supply process of the newly imported onions is underway.

Abul Bashar Chowdhury, chairman of BSM Group, said, "At the request of the government, we have imported onions for the first time to normalise the supply in the market."

If large and small-scale traders import onions, markets can be expected to stabilise soon, he added.

Chattogram port sources informed that traders, other than Meghna and BSM Groups, have 35 consignments of onion in five ships anchored at the port's jetty. Onions in these consignments will soon be set for distribution within a few days.

Cargo vessels MV Tizney and MV Ella, anchored on the outer shore, have 19 more containers of onion carrying 3,000 tonnes of the kitchen essential from Egypt.

Additionally, around 3,000 tonnes of onion from 108 containers will be supplied to the local kitchen markets within a few days.

As per the port sources, traders have received permission from the Plant Extension Center of the Department of Agriculture Extension to import more than 2 lakh tonnes of onion through the Chittagong port.