Bangladesh's Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has authorised new onion imports from India to address rising domestic prices. The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that 50 companies received Import Permits (IP) for a combined 1,500 tons after an automated verification and selection process. A total of 3,500 IP applications have been submitted since 1 August, with priority given to those accessing the server earliest.
Agricultural Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said each importer will be allowed to bring in a maximum of 30 tons at a time. He noted that "the price of onions had suddenly surged to around Tk40–45 per kg. Following the announcement of import permission yesterday, prices have eased slightly today." The permits are valid until 31 March 2026.
The approval process follows a sharp price increase in Dhaka, where retail onions exceeded Tk150 per kg within a week. Only importers who applied for IPs since early August were eligible for the new allocations.
Import flows resumed through the Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj after a three-month suspension. According to Panama Sonamasjid Port Link Limited, two trucks carrying 60 tons arrived on Sunday, followed by another truck with 30 tons on Monday, bringing the total to 90 tons. Additional consignments are expected.
Market prices have already adjusted. Wholesale onions are selling at Tk80 per kg and retail onions at Tk90 per kg. On Saturday, wholesale onions were priced at Tk110 per kg, and retail prices were Tk120 per kg.
The combined measures are intended to stabilise supply availability while maintaining oversight of import volumes through staggered issuance of IPs.
Source 1: DhakaTribune
Source 2: FinanceToday
