Green chilli imports will begin from Monday, 3 August, to keep prices stable, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid has said.

He told journalists this after visiting Shantinagar kitchen market in the capital on Sunday, 2 August.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid and State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari visited the market at midday on Sunday to observe the situation for essential commodities. They spoke to buyers and sellers about supply, prices and the overall market.

After the visit, the agriculture minister said the government had taken swift steps to stabilise green chilli prices. The existing duty on green chilli imports is being cut and import permission has been given, he said. Imports will begin from Monday, and prices should come down to a tolerable level within two to five days.

Commerce Minister Abdul Muktadir said the government would take every necessary step to keep the market bearable for consumers. Addressing journalists, he said: "Present objectively to the public what you see on the ground. That will make people aware, reduce confusion, and no one will get the chance to create an artificial crisis or manipulate prices in the market."

Earlier, the commerce and agriculture ministers and the state minister for food attended a meeting at the commerce ministry's conference room to review the overall market situation for essential food and agricultural commodities and decide what to do. From there they went to Shantinagar market. Dhaka South City Corporation administrator Md Abdus Salam was also present.

Those involved expressed hope that the government's move would keep supplies and prices of essential goods stable and bring relief to ordinary consumers.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.