Onion prices keep soaring, reaching Tk 150 a kg. Low-income consumers have been severely impacted by the price hike. In the photograph taken at Shyambazar wholesale market in Dhaka on Saturday, onions are being loaded onto a boat, which will be transported to different areas for retail sale. — FE Photo Onion prices have surged by Tk 40-50 per kg within just two days, with the kitchen markets in Dhaka now selling it at Tk 140-150 per kg.
A visit to several city markets on Saturday found wholesalers charging Tk 650-680 for a palla (5 kg), pushing retail prices up sharply, reports UNB.
Aminul Haque, an onion trader at Uttar Badda, said, "Just on Tuesday, onions were Tk 100 per kg at wholesale. A palla was selling for Tk 485-500, which is now Tk 680."
Another trader, Robiul, said, "Prices have increased by around Tk 50 per kg in two days. The price of each sack has gone up by Tk 850-1,000."
Harunur Rashid, an onion trader from Rampura, said there is no logical reason for the sudden spike. "The early-season 'murikata' onions have started arriving. Prices should have gone down, not up."
Market visits showed that 'murikata' onions are now available in small quantities, but their prices have also increased by Tk 10 per kg. Recently selling at Tk 70-80, they now cost around Tk 90 per kg.
Karwan Bazar trader Mominul said the price of old onions has pushed buyers toward murikata, but limited supply has driven prices higher.
Consumers expressed frustration over the abrupt hike. "How can onion prices rise by Tk 50 in two days?" said Rabeya Akhter, a shopper at Rampura.
Another buyer, Ehsanul Haque, complained about the lack of market monitoring. "Traders are running the market however they want. Without monitoring, consumers will suffer."
Buyers urged strict monitoring to stabilise the market, while experts warned that lack of oversight will make the situation more volatile.
Meanwhile, the government has announced that limited scale of onion imports will be permitted from today (Sunday) to stabilize the domestic market.
According to a press release of the Agriculture Ministry, 50 Import Permits (IPs) will be issued daily, with each permit allowing the import of up to 30 tonnes of onions.
Only those importers who had previously applied for export permits by August 1, 2025, will be eligible to reapply at the present date. Each importer will be allowed to submit one application only.
Authorities stated that this controlled import process will continue until further notice, depending on the market conditions.
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