“New onions are expected to enter the market within the next two weeks. If prices do not stabilize in next four to five days, we will decide on allowing imports,” he said.
According to the Adviser, the ministry has already received 2,800 applications for onion import permits.
He emphasized that if the market price does not become affordable within a few days, import approvals will be issued to ease the situation.

Addressing the sudden price surge, he cited several factors, including end of harvest season, heavy rains and weight loss during storage, as reasons for the temporary spike.
“There is no information to suggest that hoarding or syndicates are behind the price hike,” he added, describing the situation as a short-term market disruption.

The Adviser also highlighted cross-border trade pressures, noting that onions are being stockpiled for export from areas across the border.
“Even approving 10 percent of the current import applications would flood the market with onions, which could harm local farmers. We are carefully monitoring the situation before making decisions,” he said. Ministry of Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman was also present at the briefing.