Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The government has decided to remove all restrictions on the import of eggs and salt until June 30 in preparation for the Ramadan and to arrest the soaring prices of the items, officials said.
The Ministry of Commerce has asked the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (CCIE) to issue a public notice by on Tuesday in this connection.
The price of eggs increased by 51.06 percent to BDT 36 for four pieces from BDT 24 a year ago, according to data from Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Salt production this year of 1.16 million tones, against the production target at 1.45 million tones, was way short of the 1.43 million tones the country consumes, market operators said.
Bangladesh mainly imports salt from neighboring India and Burma.
Under the existing import policies, the commerce ministry permitted imports of eggs on a case-by-case basis, while there was a strict embargo on salt import.
The monthly demand of eggs in the country is between 600 million and 650 million pieces. The production of eggs was 670 million pieces in January, 640 million pieces in February and 670 million pieces in March last.
The commerce ministry officials believe that the local producers have increased the egg price illogically. “Allowing import of the item will help reduce its price significantly,” a ministry official noted.
BBN/SSR/AD-05June12-11:05 am (BST)
