The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has started selling onion at Tk 36 per kg through e-commerce companies to prevent onion price hike and ensure this spice for the middle class buyers.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday inaugurated the programme titled ‘Onion at Home’ as the chief guest through Zoom platform, reports BSS citing a press release.
Initially, three kgs of onion will be sold to a buyer under the initiative. The job will be done through five e-commerce companies in the country.
In his speech, Tipu Munshi said the commerce ministry has taken the initiative to import onion in large quantities and sale it in the open market at affordable prices.
“For those who can’t afford to buy from truck sales, TCB, in collaboration with e-commerce, has made arrangements to deliver affordable onions at home. Like other products, consumers can now buy affordable onion at home,” he added.
He said the idea of selling onion through e-commerce is new and therefore, there may be some problems.
“We will not stop; we will solve the problem and move forward. There is no reason to worry about onion. There are adequate stocks of domestic and imported onion in the country,” he added.
The commerce minister informed that India has already given permission to export 25,000 tonnes of onion, which started entering Bangladesh.
It is expected that India will allow the export of another 10,000 tonnes of onion, he added.
Initially, the sale of this onion is being started only in Dhaka and Chattogram, he said.
“TCB will gradually sell onion in all parts of the country through e-commerce. This requires sincere cooperation of buyers and sellers and all concerned. E-commerce in Bangladesh has been able to gain the confidence of consumers,” he added.
Commerce Secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin presided over the programme while TCB Chairman Brigadier General Md Ariful Hasan delivered speech as the special guest.
