Govt allows import of onion, potato again

The government has again allowed the import of potato and onion to help stabilise the prices of these items in the local market, State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu said on Saturday.
"Imports were suspended during the harvesting seasons of the two items. As the prices have gone up in the local market, the IP (import permit) is being granted," he told a press conference at the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) in the city.
He further said onions will be imported from India as discussions with relevant authorities were going on in this regard.
Recently, onions were selling at Tk 130- 140 per kg and potatoes at Tk 60-70 a kg in the local kitchen market.
Commerce Secretary Md Selim Uddin and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Md Anwar Hossain, among others, were present at the event.
Responding to a question over the export data mismatch, the state minister said the EPB has been publishing monthly export figures based on the National Board of Revenue (NBR) data.
To avoid inconsistencies in future, he said, it has been decided that the EPB will collect primary data directly from the exporters and their respective trade bodies.
The EPB would create a database by collecting gross export data directly from the exporters, NBR, and Bangladesh Bank, and would publish it after reconciliation, he noted.
There are differences over the definition of exports between the EPB, NBR and Bangladesh Bank, he said, adding that the data reported by these entities show some differences as a result.
Speaking about the National Export Trophy to be handed over at a ceremony today (Sunday), Mr Titu said the government will award 77 exporters for their outstanding contribution to the country's export earnings for the fiscal year of 2021-22.
The award will be given to those who brought in the highest amount of export proceeds.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to handover the trophy at a programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.
Among the 77 exporters, Rifat Garments Ltd from readymade garment (RMG) woven category is set to receive the highest recognition, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Export Trophy for highest export earnings in the fiscal 2021-22.

Besides Rifat Garments, the government will recognise the exporters in 28 categories for their contributions to the export earnings and overall economy.
The recognition will be given in three categories -- gold, silver and bronze.
Some 29 firms, including Rifat Garments, have been named for gold awards, 27 for silver and the rest 21 for bronze awards.
In the woven RMG category, Windy Apparels Ltd, Apparel Gallery Ltd and M\S Chittagong Asian Apparels Ltd will receive gold, silver and bronze awards respectively.
Liberty Knitwear Ltd, Divine Intimates Ltd and  Flamingo Fashions Ltd will be awarded gold, silver and bronze awards from the knitwear category.
Badsha Textiles Ltd, Square Textiles Ltd and Kamal Yarn Ltd will be awarded gold, silver and bronze respectively.
From the textile fabrics sector, Nice Denim Mills Ltd bagged gold, Ha-Meem Denim Ltd silver and Four H Dyeing and Printing Ltd bronze.
In the Home and Specialised Textiles category, Jaber & Jubair Fabrics Ltd will get gold, Momtex Expo Ltd silver, and ACS Textiles (Bangladesh) Ltd bronze.
Noman Terry Towel Mills Ltd will receive gold and ACS Towel Ltd silver from the Terry towel sector.
From the frozen food sector, Sobi Fish Processing Industries Ltd bagged gold, Priam Fish Export Ltd silver and MU Sea Foods bronze.
In the raw jute category, Popular Jute Exchange Ltd will receive gold, Tasfia Jute Trading Silver, and International Jute Traders bronze awards.
Janata Jute Mills gets gold and Akij Jute Mills silver in the jute goods category.
Picard Bangladesh Ltd will be awarded gold and ABC Footwear Industries Ltd silver in the leather goods category.
In the footwear sector, Bay Footwear Ltd will get gold, Edison Footwear Ltd silver and FB Footwear bronze.
From the agricultural products sector (excluding tobacco), Indigo Corporation will get gold, Mansoor General Trading Co Ltd silver, and CSS International Ltd bronze.
Habiganj Agro Ltd will get gold, Pran Agro silver, and Pran Foods bronze in the Agro Processing Products category (excluding tobacco products).
On the other hand, in the handicrafts sector, Karupanya Rangpur will receive gold, BD Creation silver and Classical Handmade Products BD Ltd bronze.
Durable plastic Ltd will be awarded gold in the melamine category, while silver and bronze were not awarded in this category.
In the plastic products sector, Allplast Bangladesh Ltd will get gold, Akij Biax Films Ltd silver and Banga Plastic International Ltd bronze awards.
In the ceramics category, Shinepukur Ceramics Ltd will get gold, Artisan Ceramics silver, and Pratik Ceramics bronze.
In the light engineering sector, M&U Cycles bagged gold, Meghna Bangladesh Ltd silver, and Rangpur Metal Industries Ltd (Unit-1, 2 and 3) bronze.
Walton Hi-Tech Industries Plc bagged gold, and BRB Cable Industries silver in the electrical and electronics products category.
In the other industrial products category, Marine Safety System bagged gold, Asia Metal Marine Services silver, and Tasnim Chemical Complex bronze.
In the pharmaceutical sector, Beximco Pharmaceuticals bagged gold, Incepta Pharmaceuticals silver, and Square Pharmaceuticals bronze.
Service Engine Ltd will get gold and Golden Harvest Infotech silver in the computer software category.
Universal Jeans Ltd will get gold, Pacific Jeans silver, and Shasha Denims Ltd bronze in the 100 per cent Bangladeshi owned (C Category) Manufactured Garment Industry Sector (Knit & woven) under EPZ.
Hundred per cent Bangladeshi owned (C Category) other products and service sectors under EPZ category, Star Packaging and Accessories Ltd, Padma Spinning and Composite Ltd and Fardin Accessories Ltd will receive gold, silver and bronze respectively.
In the packaging and accessories product category, M & U Packaging Ltd, Montrims Ltd and Uniglory Paper & Packaging Ltd will get gold, silver and bronze.
In other primary product categories, Hair Style Factory bagged gold, Roy Trade International silver and Eco Fresh International bronze.
In the other services sector, Expo Freight Ltd will get gold and Mir Telecom Ltd silver.
Besides, in the sector reserved for women entrepreneurs or exporters, Pioneer Knitwears (BD) will be awarded gold, Bea-con Knitwear silver and Ibrahim Knit Garments (Pvt) ltd bronze.
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