After India announced the ban on onion exports, the price of onion in the country started to rise. The price increased by more than 100 takas per kg in 24 hours. The price of per kg of domestic onion went to 220 while that of the imported onion was190 to 200 takas. Even if the price is increased without any reason, the government is interested in imports rather than taking action against the manipulators.

Those concerned say that early varieties of onions have started coming to the country's market. New onions will be in full swing in the market within a month. As the last two days were closed on Friday and Saturday, the businessmen could not open any new letter of credit (LC) in the banks for onion import. As a result, Indian onions are coming to the market through the previous LC. Therefore, there is no logical reason for the price of onion to be sold at 200 takas in the market.

Last Thursday (December 8) in an attempt to control prices in the Indian market, the country's government banned the export of onions until next March. However, at the request of the government of any country, the central government of India can provide export opportunities, it was also informed in the order of the country's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

On Sunday, the Ministry of Commerce held a meeting regarding the increase in onion prices in the country. It is said that Bangladesh wanted seven lakh tons of onion under the quota facility with India. The proposal is being discussed. But that proposal could not be implemented due to the difference in demand and supply of businessmen of the two countries.

According to sources in the meeting, India's DGFT order states that the central government of India can take the opportunity to export onions at the request of any country's government. The Ministry of Commerce will ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take appropriate measures to implement the proposal to import onion quota.

It was said in the meeting that every year the government gives minimum punishment to the onion traders. The meeting recommended strict legal action against unscrupulous onion traders in the country.

Sources said that since the commerce minister is a businessman, strict legal measures against traders are not implemented. As a result, the price of onion increases. Even if the price increases, they do not have a problem.

Meanwhile, the senior secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Tapan Kanti Ghosh, said in an official function on VAT Day, "Indian government stopped the export of onion and the price of the product suddenly increased in the country within a day! This is not the responsible behavior of businessmen.

Asking the question, how can the price increase by 80 takas in one day, he said, "Whoever sold onions at 120 taka a kg, the next day, how did the price become 200 takas?" It will take time for the price to increase. But in this case the businessmen did not show any morality in the hope of extra profit.

National Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection launched an operation at 133 places in the country on Saturday to control prices. Traders have been fined Tk 6 lakh 66 thousand for selling onion at excessive price.

Retail markets in different areas including Malibagh, Shanti Nagar, Jatrabari and Kadmatali Mohammadpur, Rampura of the capital have been visited, onions are being sold at different prices in each area. Depending on the area, a kg of local onion is Tk 210 to Tk 220 and imported onion is selling at Tk 170 to Tk 200.

In Khatunganj, Chittagong, the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection fined five companies a total of one and a half lakh taka. Several companies have been forced to sell onions at earlier rates.