62,000 imported eggs come in through Benapole
The government previously permitted the import of 15 crore eggs to cool down the spiralling prices of the essential commodity
The initial shipment of imported eggs has arrived in Bangladesh from India through the Benapole land port of Jashore.
A total of 61,950 pieces of eggs entered the land port on a Sunday evening, and more shipments are expected to follow, as confirmed by representatives of the importers.
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BDS Corporation, a Bangladeshi importer located in the West Rampura area of Dhaka, received permission to import 1 crore eggs but has, for now, brought in only 61,950 eggs.
According to the invoice, the total cost of the imported eggs was $2,988.40, which translates to an import price of Tk5.43 per egg.
However, once various expenses such as import duty, C&F charges, transport costs, and other fees are factored in, the price of each egg stands at Tk9.50 in Bangladesh.
To mitigate the escalating prices of eggs, the government permitted 15 companies to import a total of 15 crore eggs in several phases last September. Of these, four companies were granted permission on September 18 to import four crore eggs.
These imported eggs are expected to be retailed at government-set price of Tk12 per piece
These imported eggs are expected to be retailed at the government-set price of Tk12 per piece, according to Md Haider Ali, the public relations officer of the commerce ministry.
Haider Ali also explained that the delay in the arrival of the eggs was due to challenges in obtaining certification from the exporting country's competent authority, ensuring that there was no avian influenza present.
Several conditions have been imposed on each shipment of imported eggs, including the requirement for a certificate proving freedom from avian influenza or the bird flu virus, as well as the absence of harmful bacteria. These certificates must be provided by the exporting country's government, and importers are obligated to pay the prescribed duties or taxes determined by the government, he added.
Rezaul Karim, the acting director of the Benapole land port, stated that the port authority is actively assisting in expediting the release of the imported egg consignments from India.
Since there is no egg testing equipment available at the port, clearance of the egg consignments is based on certificates issued by Indian authorities.
Each dozen eggs were sold for Tk150 in the markets of the capital city on Monday.
