Onion prices still beyond control, says minister

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque yesterday said onion prices still remain beyond control due to inadequate import and a lack of stock.

 He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after attending the annual research review workshop at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in Gazipur.

 The minister said although the current annual demand for onion is 25-26 lakh tonnes, only 300-500 tonnes are being imported.

 Razzaque also said, “Our farmers couldn’t put onion in their stocks after harvest due to rain. Besides, we failed to presume that India would ban onion export. Maybe it was our fault. We should have conducted a survey in advance.”

 “We’ve to keep in mind that the price of a commodity depends on demand and supply. It cannot be controlled by the Rab, police and army,” he added.

 Presided over by BRRI Director General Md Shahjahan Kabir, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Director General of the Department of Agriculture Extension Md Abdul Muid, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Md Kabir Ikramul Haque.