Onion consignment from Pakistan arrives in Dhaka

DHAKA: An 82-ton consignment of onions from Pakistan arrived at Dhaka airport on Wednesday, officials said.

Amid the ongoing onion crisis that has caused its prices to reach record levels, Bangladesh has started importing the kitchen essential by air freight, international media reported.

"A cargo plane of Silkway West Airlines, carrying 82 tons of onions, have arrived here at Dhaka. Saad International imported the consignment," Assistant Commissioner Sazzad Hossain of Dhaka Customs House was quoted as saying.

Onion prices in Bangladesh skyrocketed after India banned exports to conserve its own stocks, after they were hit by drought and then by heavy monsoon rains. The price of the essential commodity, which usually costs Tk30 per kg, soared to up to Tk260 after India's export ban was imposed.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) have been selling onions in open market sale (OMS) at Tk45 per kg to make it affordable for the public.

However, in the backdrop of continuous increase in the prices of onion, and acute shortage of this kitchen essential, a group of traders at Khatunganj wholesale market dumped around 20 tons of rotten onions in Chaktai canal adjacent to the Karnaphuli River on November 14.