Chinese, Pakistani onions reach Ctg

OUR CORRESPONDENT
CHATTOGRAM, Aug 17: Chinese and Pakistani onion varieties have come to wholesale markets at Khatunganj and Chaktai in the port city.
Traders said Chinese onion is being sold wholesale at Tk 80 per kg while Pakistani onion at Tk 60 a kg at the markets.
The demand for these onion varieties has increased in hotels and restaurants due to their reasonable prices.
Dr Mohammed Shah Alam, deputy director of the Plant Quarantine Centre at Chittagong port, said, "Two consignments of onion reached Chittagong port from Pakistan and China by ship last week."
Sources said Khatunganj and Chaktai, big wholesale markets for consumer goods, have no supply of domestic onion varieties. Imported Indian onions are being sold wholesale at Tk 95-97 per kg. But, Pakistani onion is sold at Tk 80 and Chinese onion at Tk 60 per kg at the wholesale markets.
While visiting several markets, including Kajirdewri and Reajuddin Bazar, the FE correspondent observed that onion price has not decreased in retail markets till Saturday.
The retail seller said they bought the onion at a higher rate, so they are selling at a higher rate till now.
Mohammed Idris, general secretary of the Chattogram Onion Importers Association said, "The onion price at wholesale markets has already decreased. Importers imported huge quantity of onion and took delivery of imported onion recently. The wholesale traders are selling per kg onion at the decreased price in the current week."
[email protected]