Commerce minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday said two vital ministries have started working jointly to ensure supply of key essential items including onion through offsetting a production gap in a bid to check their unusual price hike in the market.
"We have already formed a joint working committee to prepare a plan of action aiming to mitigate the production shortfall of key agricultural produce at domestic level," he added.
The two ministries -- commerce and agriculture -- sat on Sunday to discuss necessary course of action to this effect, the minister said while speaking as the chief guest at an award giving ceremony organized by Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) in the city.
"The two ministries have discussion on widely-consumed onion in the morning. The country depended on India for importing onion that was around 90 per cent, he said.
Currently, traders concerned have started importing the item from different destinations including Turkey and Egypt. The consignments will enter the local markets within 2/4 days, he mentioned.
"The onion market was volatile last year. We have already taken required measures from last year's experience. From the beginning of onion price spiral, we have started importing onion with the help of the government," Mr Munshi said.
Onions have started arriving in the country. It is not possible to bring the onion price down to Tk 50/55 per kg at consumer level with adding all costs including traders' profit and importers' commission, he said.
He also urged media to report accurately on the price hike of essentials such as onion, potato and edible oil.
The ministries concerned are now working to make the country self-sufficient in onion production and meet the country's growing demand. Some 1.0-1.1 million tonnes of onion are imported every year to meet the annual demand.
The commerce minister also said the government has taken right decision to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It has announced stimulus package for the country's all sectors including trade and business.
"I feel proud of being a part of the current pace of the economic development in Bangladesh and would like to thank Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for giving me the opportunity at the fag end of my life," Mr Munshi said.
Country Representative of Asia Foundation Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, Joint Editor of The Financial Express and former president of ERF Shamsul Huq Zahid and convener of jury board of best reporting "ERF Award Ceremony-2020" Serajul Islam Quadir also spoke on the occasion.
ERF president Saiful Islam Dilal moderated the award giving event and its general secretary SM Rashidul Islam delivered introductory speech.
Fifteen economic reporters were presented with awards for their best business reporting on bank, capital market etc.
The awards were given in nine categories. Jasim Uddin Haroon of The Financial Express, Jamal Uddin of Daily Ittefaq, Jahangir Shah, Rajib Ahmed and Sanaullah Sakib of Prothom Alo, Hamid UZ Zaman of Daily Jugantor, Jebun Nesa Alo of the Business Standard, Altaf Masud of Daily Desh Rupantor and Ismail Ali of sharebiz received awards in different categories.
Razu Ahmed of GTV, Remon Rahman, Sushanta Sinha and Alamgir Hossain of Jamuna Television, Kaberi Maitraya of Ekattor TV and S M Zobayer Alam of Somoy Television won the award in TV reporting category.
The commerce minister handed over the awards to them.
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