Bangla Press Desk: Around 800 traders applied for permission to import green chillies on the first day after the government opened imports to boost supply and cool soaring domestic prices.
Sources at the Ministry of Agriculture said applications from about 800 traders were received on Monday. Nearly 400 applications have already been processed, while the rest are being reviewed.
Green chilli prices have surged to Tk400-450 per kg in Dhaka’s kitchen markets after continuous rainfall and waterlogging disrupted supply chains and damaged standing crops.
The government on Sunday approved green chilli imports and decided to reduce import duties in a bid to rein in prices.
Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid said he expected the spice to become more affordable within the next two to five days.
The announcement came after Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid and State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari visited Shantinagar Kitchen Market in Dhaka to assess the supply and prices of essential commodities.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, the agriculture minister said the government had taken prompt measures to stabilise the market by allowing imports and lowering import duties.
“The import process will begin today,” he said, expressing confidence that prices would fall to an affordable level within two to five days.
During the visit, the ministers spoke with traders and consumers about the supply, prices and overall market situation.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said the government would take all necessary measures to keep essential commodities affordable.
He also urged the media to report market conditions objectively, saying accurate reporting would help raise public awareness, reduce confusion and discourage artificial shortages and price manipulation.
Earlier in the day, the commerce and agriculture ministers and the state minister for food held a meeting at the commerce ministry to review the market situation for essential food and agricultural commodities and discuss measures to stabilise prices.
Officials expressed hope that the government’s initiatives would improve the supply of green chillies and other essentials, helping bring prices under control.
