Tarikul Alam: In a press conference held in the Commerce Ministry’s conference room on Thursday, September 14th, the government announced price determinations for eggs, potatoes, and onions.
The new prices are set as follows: 12 Taka per piece of eggs, 35-36 Taka per kilogram of potatoes, and 64-65 Taka per kilogram of onions.
During the conference, the Commerce Minister also mentioned a decrease in the price of soybean oil, now priced at 5 Taka less per liter.
The Commerce Minister stated, “We recently convened a meeting where we discussed the pricing of three key agricultural products: onions, potatoes, and eggs.
These price determinations have been made in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock.”
He went on to explain, “Until now, we hadn’t set prices for agricultural products, but today, we’ve taken the step of determining prices for the first time.
These prices have been carefully calculated, considering production costs, cold storage expenses, and market conditions. We hope to implement these prices effectively.”
Regarding the price of potatoes, the Commerce Minister emphasized that the price should not exceed 36 Taka per kilogram, taking into account production costs and storage expenses.
However, he acknowledged that the price might vary slightly depending on the distance from Dhaka, and in Chittagong, it might be slightly higher.
He further explained, “The prices have been determined with a nationwide perspective, and the price of potatoes in cold storage will be 26-27 Taka per kilogram.”
He also mentioned that the fair market price for locally grown onions should be around 64-65 Taka per kilogram, considering all aspects.
However, there might be a one Taka difference based on geographical location. The Ministry of Agriculture has thoroughly reviewed and assessed these prices.
The Commerce Minister concluded by saying, “This decision marks the beginning of a comprehensive approach to regulate prices, starting from consumer rights to district-level market monitoring by Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and extensive monitoring in major cities and districts. We will take all necessary steps to control market prices effectively following today’s announcement.”