Green chilli prices have fallen by half in Benapole and other markets in Jashore’s Sharsha upazila. Where a kilogram sold for 300 taka just five days ago, it is now selling for 150-180 taka.
With green chilli prices rising abnormally across the country, the government began importing from India to control the market. Over the past five days, 80 tonnes of green chilli have been imported from India through Benapole.
The first consignment — 9,200 kg (9.2 tonnes) in one Indian truck — entered Benapole port around 8pm on Monday (4 August); a second consignment of 42,220 kg (42.22 tonnes) in three trucks came on Tuesday (4 August) evening; 14,000 kg (14 tonnes) in one truck on Thursday (6 August) evening; and 15,000 kg (15 tonnes) in one truck on Saturday (8 August) evening. In all, 80.42 tonnes (80,420 kg) of green chilli have been imported through Benapole port over the five days.
Chilli importer Rafikul Islam said green chilli was being imported from India at 305 dollars a tonne, costing about 135 taka a kilogram in all, and was being sold in the market at a small profit; prices would fall further as imports rose. But various customs complications and delays in clearing goods were pushing up the revenue payable, leaving importers facing losses and raising import costs, he said.
According to the commerce ministry, imports began from various Indian provinces, especially Nasik, after government permission. In the first phase, 69 traders received import permits (IP) for a total of 29,710 tonnes of green chilli, and imports began on Monday.
In the Benapole port kitchen market, where a kilogram of green chilli sold for 300 taka five days ago, it was selling from 150-180 taka from Sunday morning; sellers expect prices to fall below 100 taka as imports rise. The importer for this consignment is Shimu Enterprise, with clearance from the port assisted by the C&F agent Shimu Shipping Lines.
Benapole land port’s acting director (traffic), Ruhul Amin, said clearance was being arranged quickly as soon as chilli-laden trucks reached the port, with the paperwork completed fast, and that many more green-chilli trucks were waiting across the border to enter the port.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report