Commodity import for Ramadan to be double this year: Tipu Munshi

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi yesterday said the government was trying to import essential commodities like edible oil, chick peas, date and onion through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh in large quantities ahead of the holy month of Ramadan aiming at keeping prices stable.

The imports will be double in quantity compared to that of previous years, he informed.

"We have also talked with the business people who assured that the prices would be kept at a reasonable level in Ramadan," he said.

The minister was replying to queries of journalists after the inaugural ceremony of Bangabandhu Memorial Gallery at the head office of Bangladesh Tea Board at Bayezid area in Chattogram city in the afternoon.

About fixing the price of edible oil, the minister said the price has increased by 67 per cent in the global market, reaching $1,150 from $700.

Ninety per cent of the country's demand for edible oil needs to be met through imports.

Admitting that people are facing hardship in purchasing edible oil at higher rates, he said it was not possible to fix prices lower than what was in the global market.

He informed that the government has so far been selling edible oil among the common people through the TCB at cheaper rates by giving subsidy and the effort would be continued.

Earlier, he inaugurated the Bangabandhu Memorial Gallery and Bangabandhu Corner set up at the premises of Bangladesh Tea Board.

The gallery displays a number of photographs on different events during the lifetime of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman including the period he discharged his duty as chairman of the then Pakistan Tea Board from 1957 to 1958 and some of his speeches.

Commerce Secretary Md Jafar Ahmad was the special guest at the ceremony with Bangladesh Tea Board Chairman Md Zahirul Islam in the chair.