Of tears and turmoil

India's ban on onion exports, along with the decreasing stock of locally-grown onions, has given unscrupulous traders the chance to cash in. Onions prices have been volatile in the last few years but this time, prices shot up to Tk 100 per kg in different wholesale and kitchen markets. It seems that the government is yet to control or set up a plan on how to handle the consumers' plight. Due to this price hike, inflation will creep in and the purchasing power of the middle and lower classes will reduce. Their living standards will also erode. The government should have a long-term plan on how to produce the essential goods domestically in sufficient amounts and compensate the farmers during production, otherwise, the same plight will prevail in future.