A significant boost to Bangladesh’s onion supply is on the horizon, according to State Minister for Commerce, Ahsanul Islam Titu. He announced the imminent arrival of 50,000 metric tonnes (MTs) of onions from India, aiming to alleviate the market’s current scarcity.

The inaugural consignment is expected next week, marking the beginning of a phased import plan designed to enhance the availability of onions in Bangladesh, Titu revealed during the ‘World Consumer Rights Day-2024’ event at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

This year’s theme, focusing on smart consumer practices in a digitizing Bangladesh, set the backdrop for discussions on enhancing consumer intelligence in the marketplace.

Key figures such as Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry, and representatives from the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Directorate of the National Consumer Rights Protection shared insights, highlighting the concerted efforts to improve market stability and consumer rights.

Titu called on the business community and civil society to join hands in ensuring fair pricing, particularly with the approach of Ramadan. Efforts to stabilize the prices of essential goods, including oil, pulses, chickpeas, and sugar, were noted as part of the broader strategy to strengthen the supply chain and price control mechanisms.

Further, the government’s initiative to support low-income families through subsidized essentials by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) was underscored as a critical step towards economic relief for approximately four crore beneficiaries.

In a significant move towards market transparency, the launch of the ‘Supply Chain Monitoring System (SCMS) software’ was announced, expected to offer considerable relief to consumers by enabling access to goods at mill gate prices.

This comprehensive approach, emphasizing both import strategies and technological advancements, underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring market stability.