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Published : 13 Dec 2025, 01:08 AM
Onion prices in Dhaka have climbed once more, six days after news of imports from India brought retail and wholesale prices down by Tk 20-30 per kg.
By Friday, local onions in Dhaka’s retail markets had returned to Tk 140-150 per kg. This price was seen in Jatrabari, Shonir Akhra, Motijheel, Segunbagicha and Karwan Bazar.
At the Karwan Bazar wholesale market, five kg of local onions were selling at Tk 600, equivalent to Tk 120 per kg, said trader Sekendar Ali. He added that the same onions were being sold at Tk 150 per kg in neighbourhood shops.
Early-season “murikata” onions, which entered the market at Tk 100 per kg, dropped to Tk 60 per kg after just a week.
On Friday, Indian onions were selling at Tk 80-100 per kg in Dhaka.
Importers are buying onions from India at $245-250 per tonne. With the dollar trading at up to Tk 122.30 according to Bangladesh Bank, the import cost ranges from Tk 29,963 to Tk 30,500 per tonne, or Tk 29.96 to Tk 30.50 per kg. Retailers are selling them at Tk 60-80 per kg.
Meanwhile, Indian media reports that onion prices fell to Rs 10-15 per kg in India after farmers were unable to export. Farmers protested by dumping onions onto highways and crushing them with tractors, as they could not recover production costs.
According to KisanDeals, an Indian platform that tracks agricultural prices, the highest-quality onions are selling wholesale at Rs 18.30 per kg, and between Rs 13-26 per kg at retail.
According to data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), local onions in Dhaka were selling at Tk 100-140 per kg on Friday.
IMPORTS TO BE INCREASED
To cool the overheated onion market, the government has decided to increase imports by four times. From Saturday, the Department of Agricultural Extension will issue 200 import permits (IPs) per day.
A media statement from the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday said each IP will allow a maximum of 30 tonnes of onions, as before.
It added that only importers who applied since Aug 1 will be allowed to reapply. Since the approval system is fully online, IPs can be issued even on holidays.
VEGETABLE PRICES REFUSE TO FALL
Despite markets being full of winter vegetables, prices have not eased. Some items became more expensive on Friday.
Okra and pointed gourd rose by Tk 10, selling at Tk 70 per kg.
In Jatrabari, round aubergine remained at last week’s Tk 100 per kg, while long aubergine dropped to Tk 60 per kg from Tk 80. Slim aubergine was selling at Tk 40 per kg.
The prices have remained unchanged for green chillies at Tk 120, new potatoes at Tk 80, papaya at Tk 30 and bitter gourd at Tk 80.
In Segunbagicha, Rohu fish sold at Tk 330 per kg, the same as last week. Tilapia rose by Tk 20 to Tk 220 per kg, and Pangas catfish increased by Tk 20 to Tk 200 per kg.
Beef prices remained steady across markets at Tk 750 per kg with bone.
At the Motijheel T&T market, sonali chicken sold at Tk 290 per kg, compared to Tk 280 last week, according to trader Hossain Mia.
In Jatrabari, broiler chicken was selling at Tk 165 per kg.
Egg prices also remained unchanged in Segunbagicha, at Tk 40 per four-piece pack.
