Bangladesh flies in emergency shipments of onions after fury over shortages
Country’s largest opposition party calling for nationwide protests over record prices
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Bangladesh is having emergency supplies of onions flown-in amid a national shortage which has seen prices rise to record levels, with the prime minister claiming she has even been forced to stop eating the vegetable.
The cost of the staple cooking ingredient rocketed after neighbouring India imposed a ban on exports following drought and heavy monsoon rains which reduced the country’s own stock levels.
People in Bangladesh have since struggled to afford the bulb, prompting the country’s largest opposition party to call for national protests over the high prices, which they blame on the government.
Such is the centrality of the vegetable to daily cooking habits in South Asia that shortages have been known to trigger political fallouts and widespread discontent within the region.
A kilo of onions usually costs 30 taka (27p) but has risen to 260 taka (£2.37) after India’s ban was enforced.
Hasan Jahid Tusher, the deputy press secretary for prime minister Sheikh Hasina, said onions were being imported in planeloads, and that the “prime minister said she has stopped using onion in dishes”.
None of the dishes at the PM’s residence in the capital Dhaka on Saturday contained onions, he added.
Local media reported several onion consignments arrived at a major port in Chittagong city on Sunday after the government imported the bulb from Myanmar, Turkey, China and Egypt.
The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is also selling the vegetable at a discounted price of 45 taka per kilo in Dhaka, with long queues forming to purchase the subsidised onions.
“Even if I have to stand another two hours, I will do that. I can save some 250 taka by buying one kilo of TCB onion. I am standing here because I have to save money,” one English teacher told AFP.
“I am 41 years old. I have never seen onion prices ever crossing beyond 120 taka.”
India’s first onion harvest was hit by drought in the spring before heavy monsoon rains affected the second crop. In a bid to curb its own rising prices, the country last week said it would be importing 100,000 tons of onions.
Additional reporting by agencies.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments