Saturday, 13 December, 2025
Onion prices in Dhaka have surged once more, just six days after news of Indian imports initially brought retail and wholesale rates down by Tk 20–30 per kg.
By Friday, local onions in Dhaka’s retail markets were selling at Tk 140–150 per kg, with prices observed in Jatrabari, Shonir Akhra, Motijheel, Segunbagicha, and Karwan Bazar.
At the Karwan Bazar wholesale market, five kg of local onions were priced at Tk 600 — equivalent to Tk 120 per kg, according to trader Sekendar Ali. He added that the same onions were sold at Tk 150 per kg in neighbourhood shops.
Early-season “murikata” onions, which entered the market at Tk 100 per kg, had dropped to Tk 60 per kg after just a week.
Importers are purchasing onions from India at $245–250 per tonne. With the dollar trading at up to Tk 122.30, the import cost ranges from Tk 29,963 to Tk 30,500 per tonne — or Tk 29.96–30.50 per kg — while retailers sell them at Tk 60–80 per kg.
Meanwhile, reports from India indicate that onion prices there fell to Rs 10–15 per kg, prompting farmers to protest by dumping onions on highways and crushing them with tractors, unable to recover production costs. According to KisanDeals, high-quality onions are selling wholesale at Rs 18.30 per kg and retail between Rs 13–26 per kg.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), local onions in Dhaka were priced at Tk 100–140 per kg on Friday.
Government to Increase Imports
To cool the overheated onion market, the government has decided to quadruple imports. From Saturday, the Department of Agricultural Extension will issue 200 import permits (IPs) per day, allowing a maximum of 30 tonnes of onions per permit. Only importers who applied since 1 August will be allowed to reapply, and the fully online system allows permits to be issued even on holidays, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.
Vegetable Prices Remain High
Despite markets being stocked with winter vegetables, prices remain elevated. Some items even rose on Friday:
Okra and pointed gourd rose by Tk 10 to Tk 70 per kg.
Round aubergine stayed at Tk 100 per kg; long aubergine fell to Tk 60 from Tk 80; slim aubergine sold at Tk 40 per kg.
Green chillies remained at Tk 120, new potatoes at Tk 80, papaya at Tk 30, and bitter gourd at Tk 80.
In Malibagh Bazar, Rohu fish stayed at Tk 330 per kg, while Tilapia rose to Tk 220 and Pangas catfish to Tk 200 per kg. Beef remained steady at Tk 750 per kg with bone.
At Motijheel Arambagh Market, sonali chicken sold at Tk 290 per kg, up from Tk 280 last week, while in Jatrabari, broiler chicken was Tk 165 per kg. Egg prices in Segunbagicha remained unchanged at Tk 40 for a four-piece pack.
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Onion prices in Dhaka have surged once more, just six days after news of Indian imports initially brought retail and wholesale rates down by Tk 20–30 per kg.
By Friday, local onions in Dhaka’s retail markets were selling at Tk 140–150 per kg, with prices observed in Jatrabari, Shonir Akhra, Motijheel, Segunbagicha, and Karwan Bazar.
At the Karwan Bazar wholesale market, five kg of local onions were priced at Tk 600 — equivalent to Tk 120 per kg, according to trader Sekendar Ali. He added that the same onions were sold at Tk 150 per kg in neighbourhood shops.
Early-season “murikata” onions, which entered the market at Tk 100 per kg, had dropped to Tk 60 per kg after just a week.
Importers are purchasing onions from India at $245–250 per tonne. With the dollar trading at up to Tk 122.30, the import cost ranges from Tk 29,963 to Tk 30,500 per tonne — or Tk 29.96–30.50 per kg — while retailers sell them at Tk 60–80 per kg.
Meanwhile, reports from India indicate that onion prices there fell to Rs 10–15 per kg, prompting farmers to protest by dumping onions on highways and crushing them with tractors, unable to recover production costs. According to KisanDeals, high-quality onions are selling wholesale at Rs 18.30 per kg and retail between Rs 13–26 per kg.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), local onions in Dhaka were priced at Tk 100–140 per kg on Friday.
Government to Increase Imports
To cool the overheated onion market, the government has decided to quadruple imports. From Saturday, the Department of Agricultural Extension will issue 200 import permits (IPs) per day, allowing a maximum of 30 tonnes of onions per permit. Only importers who applied since 1 August will be allowed to reapply, and the fully online system allows permits to be issued even on holidays, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.
Vegetable Prices Remain High
Despite markets being stocked with winter vegetables, prices remain elevated. Some items even rose on Friday:
Okra and pointed gourd rose by Tk 10 to Tk 70 per kg.
Round aubergine stayed at Tk 100 per kg; long aubergine fell to Tk 60 from Tk 80; slim aubergine sold at Tk 40 per kg.
Green chillies remained at Tk 120, new potatoes at Tk 80, papaya at Tk 30, and bitter gourd at Tk 80.
In Malibagh Bazar, Rohu fish stayed at Tk 330 per kg, while Tilapia rose to Tk 220 and Pangas catfish to Tk 200 per kg. Beef remained steady at Tk 750 per kg with bone.
At Motijheel Arambagh Market, sonali chicken sold at Tk 290 per kg, up from Tk 280 last week, while in Jatrabari, broiler chicken was Tk 165 per kg. Egg prices in Segunbagicha remained unchanged at Tk 40 for a four-piece pack.
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