After three days, slot booking of potatoes and onions became normal at the India-Bangladesh border. Indian trucks loaded with imported potatoes and onions entered through Sonamsjid land port on Wednesday (November 27). A consignment of 94 trucks with 2,502.6 tonnes of onions and 109 trucks with 2,942.1 tonnes of potatoes entered throughout the day.
This information was confirmed by Kamal Khan, Operations Manager of Panama Sonamsjid Port Link Limited, the private operator that manages the Sonamsjid port.
Onions and potatoes loaded trucks started coming from India again on Thursday. The reopening of the West Bengal state government’s slot booking portal has brought relief to border traders.
Earlier on November 25, 3 trucks with 62 tonnes of potatoes entered the port only, and the import of the two products was stopped. Like other places in the country, the price of both products increased in Chapainawabganj after the news of the import ban was broadcast in the media.
Potatoe prices increased by at least 10 taka per kg and onion prices at least 15 taka per kg. Now, if imports continue, prices are expected to come down again.
Chapainawabganj onion importer M/s Sajjad Enterprise Proprietor Masudur Rahman said that last Sunday (November 24), they learned in the media that the West Bengal state government has stopped the export of two products. Their Indian exporters also did not give any advance information in this regard.
After that, the import of both products was stopped from last Monday (November 25). Even last Tuesday (November 26) those two products did not enter Bangladesh. Then on Wednesday (November 27) imported potatoes and onions again entered the port.
Indian exporters and C&F agents told them that the state government of West Bengal has not allowed the export of the two products through any port in West Bengal as the price of the two products is high in their local market.
He also said that the trucks that have taxed potatoes (in the pipeline) at West Bengal’s Mahdipur land port opposite Sonamsjid have been allowed to export for the time being. It is also heard that onion import will continue till further decision. No final decision has been made regarding onions. It is said that the decisions are not taken central government but by state governments.
