Importers get permission to import Indian onions through Hili port

The government has given permission to import 150 tonnes of onions from India through Hili Land Port in Dinajpur to check the spiralling hike in price. 

"Five importers have got the permission to import the onions," said Deputy Assistant Officer of the Plant Quarantine Department of Hili Land Port, Md. Yusuf Ali on Sunday afternoon. 

To control the price of onions in the domestic market, five importing companies have been given permission by the government to import 150 tonnes of onions through the Hili Land Port, he said.

Yusuf Ali said that each of the importers has been allowed to import 30 tonnes of onions. They can import onions at any time. They will be provided with all kinds of assistance in this regard.

Wholesale trader of the port, Md. Riazul Haque said, "The price of local onions has decreased by Tk 10 per kilogram (kg) in two days due to the news of onion import. The onions that were sold at Tk 75 per kg for the last two days are being sold at Tk 65 per kg today." 

President of Hili Land Port Import-Export Group, Sakhawat Hossain Shilpi, said five importing companies, who got permission, have started opening LCs for onion import on Sunday. 

It is expected that onion import activities from India will start on Monday.