India takes steps to allow at least 1,000 trucks to carry onion to Bangladesh
The officials of the Indian external affairs ministry have begun talks with the commerce ministry officials on the issue of allowing at least 1,000 trucks containing onions to proceed to Bangladesh to supply the kitchen staple.
The talks began today in the wake of reports that the trucks, each containing 25 tonnes of onion, are stranded at the trade points along Bangladesh's border with West Bengal, sources said.
The trucks are stranded at Petrapole, Mahadipur in Malda, Hili, Ghojaldanga, Changrabandha and Fulbari in West Bengal, following the notification by India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade on Monday announcing a ban on export of onion.
The DGFT notification announcing the ban has made it clear that it does not apply to consignments for which agreements have already been processed, according to our New Delhi correspondent.
The Federation of Indian Exporters Organizations (FIEO) has said they want the consignments that have already been contracted and have letters of credit from Bangladeshi importers should be exempted from the prohibition.
The matter is being pursued with the Indian Customs authorities and the DGFT, said Sushil Patowary, chairperson of the eastern Indian chapter of FIEO.
Patowary said since onions are perishable, the consignments stranded at the land trade points should be allowed to proceed to Bangladesh at the earliest.
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