Onion imports resume at Benapol port after three months

Onion imports from India through Benapol land port resumed on Monday after a gap of three months.

The first consignment of onions under the 31st transshipment entered Benapol from Petrapole port in India around 2 pm.

The imported onions were brought in by Satkhira-based M/S HK A Enterprise and Jessore-based M/S Sabah Enterprise.

Rafiqul Islam Royal, owner of the clearing agency Royal Enterprise, said that the consignment included three trucks carrying a total of 90 metric tonnes of onions.

In September, only 60 metric tonnes were imported.

Shyamal Kumar Nath, Deputy Assistant Officer at Benapol Plant Quarantine Center, said that the Ministry of Commerce has approved onion imports from India, but on a limited scale.

“Currently, 200 importers will receive IPs daily and each importer can bring in 30–60 tons of onions. We urge the government to open the IP system for more importers which would further reduce prices in the domestic market,” he added.

Shamim Hossain, Director of Benapol Port, said that authorities have been instructed to ensure that imported onions are cleared quickly so that traders can receive them without delay.