Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin has announced that the government will permit onion imports to increase supply in the local market.

He made the remarks on Tuesday (August 12) after a meeting at the Ministry of Commerce conference room at the Secretariat, held to set export targets for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The adviser said onions will be imported based on demand and supply considerations. Importers will be allowed to bring onions from any country they prefer, not just India.

“Our main objective is to reduce onion prices and increase supply. We will import from wherever the prices are lowest,” he said.

He added that the government will import as much onion as necessary to bring down prices, without restricting imports to any specific country.

Recently, onion prices in Dhaka markets have surged sharply. Over the past week, prices rose from Tk60 to Tk80–85 per kilogram. In response, the government has decided to import onions, though the timing and quantity of imports have yet to be announced.

MSK/