The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan Wednesday said the government would import potatoes if the local traders try to hike the potato price before Ramzan.

He asked the traders to keep the potato price at a reasonable level both before and during Ramadan keeping in view the production cost.

The Commerce Minister was talking to the leaders of Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) at his office in the afternoon.

The traders assured the minister that the current price of potato would remain unchanged until Ramadan as they have sufficient stock.

Of some 18 lakh metric ton of potato put in storage this year, only 10 percent have so far been sold while another 10 percent would be preserved as seed potato.

Traders think 12 lakh metric tons of potato are enough to meet the local demand till November.

The production cost of per kg potato was Tk 13 to Tk 14 while the item now sells at Tk 23-Tk 24 in the market.