The first consignment of Indian onion is expected to arrive in Bangladesh by Sunday night and would be sold to the consumers at Taka 40 per kilogram (kg) at retail level, said Bangladesh State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu.

“A total of 1650 out of 50,000 metric tons of onion will be imported through train in the first consignment and the sales of the imported onion will start within two days through the appointed dealers in Dhaka and Chattogram,” Titu said.

Titu said this at a press conference after a meeting with the stakeholders of the task force committee on prices of essential commodities held at the Ministry of Commerce in Dhaka today.

The state minister also said currently import of sugar from India is not needed as the essential item has a good supply in the local markets, Reports Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

Earlier, India allowed exports of onions through a government-to-government route to Bangladesh and five other countries on the recommendation of its external affairs ministry.

By Navalsang Parmar (Dhaka)