United News of Bangladesh

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Tuesday said that the government is trying to resist further declines in potato and egg prices to avoid hurting farmers, underscoring a policy push to balance producer viability with consumer affordability. Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Commerce in the afternoon, he said prices of potatoes and eggs in the local market are currently at a ‘normal’ level and the overall market situation remains stable ahead of Ramadan. “The market is now more stable compared to other times. Compared to last Ramadan, prices of essential commodities are expected to be lower in the upcoming Ramadan,” he said. Expedite trade facilitation roadmap implementation for LDC graduation: Sk Bashir Claiming there is no shortage or disorder in the market, the adviser said discipline has returned to the market as a result of various initiatives taken by the Ministry of Commerce. “We have been saying repeatedly, and we are saying it again, that the upcoming Ramadan will be better than the previous one.” Referring specifically to potato and egg prices, Bashir said he does not want prices to decline further. “Eggs are selling at Tk 120 per dozen and potatoes at Tk 30 per kg. If prices fall below this level, farmers will be affected.” To protect small-scale poultry farmers, he stressed the need to fix egg prices in line with feed costs. “Prices must be determined after considering all relevant factors.” Replying to a question on alleged syndicates in the meat market, the adviser said the government deliberately refrained from importing beef to reduce prices, as such a move would have harmed local cattle farmers. “We could have imported meat from Brazil at half the current price if we wanted to. But the government chose not to do so, keeping farmers’ interests in mind,” he said, adding that while some corporate dominance exists in the egg market, no such control is evident in the meat sector. He also noted that there has never been a supply shortage in the egg market. “When egg prices rose to Tk 180 per dozen, the Ministry of Commerce approved the import of 290 million eggs. However, only 1.1 million eggs were actually imported—an amount that can meet national demand for just 10 to 15 minutes, given a daily demand of around 50 million eggs.” On his last working day, Bashir acknowledged that there were shortcomings but said there was no lack of effort in controlling the market. “There is no visible crisis in the market. Overall, the prices of eggs, potatoes, rice, pulses, sugar and edible oil are at a tolerable level,” he said, adding that monitoring and investigations into edible oil prices are continuing regularly. Second round of tariff talks with US ‘encouraging’: Sk Bashir

Costly mega projects taken during the Awami League government, including the Padma Bridge, Padma Rail Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel and Payra Port, have had adverse impacts on the market, contributing to economic instability, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin reiterated on Sunday. “The projected toll collection from the Padma Rail Bridge was Tk 1,400 crore, but only Tk 26 crore has been realised so far. It was claimed that the Padma Bridge would raise GDP by 2 percent; instead, GDP has declined. The draft of Payra Port is only four metres, it is unclear whether it is a port or merely a jetty. The same logic applies to the Karnaphuli Tunnel,” he told a press conference at his ministry. The adviser said thousands of crores of taka were spent over the last one and a half decades on unnecessary and poorly planned projects that failed to generate sustainable income for the country. As a result, the debt burden increased and the currency depreciated. Bangladesh, Japan finalises draft of EPA, signing next month: Commerce Adviser “Analyse it yourselves — what did the country actually gain in return for the Padma Bridge? If this money had been invested in irrigation and fertiliser, it would have been far more meaningful, and Bangladesh’s debt repayment capacity would have improved further,” he said. Sk Bashir Uddin said foreign debt stood at around Tk 2 lakh crore when the Awami League came to power in 2008, which rose to Tk 23 lakh crore by 2025. He also noted that the currency depreciated by 46 percent over the past one and a half decades. “There has been an organised spree of looting in the country. The banking sector has been completely ruined, forcing Bangladesh to seek loans from the International Monetary Fund. This loan was not sought by the interim government; it was taken by the Awami League government.” The adviser said the interim government was firmly committed to halting unnecessary project spending and has already scrapped hundreds of such projects involving thousands of crores of taka. “Projects where around 80 percent of funds have already been spent are being continued out of compulsion, while those with only 5–10 percent expenditure have been cancelled,” he said. Referring to the cost escalation of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bashir Uddin said project costs increased by Tk 26,000 crore mainly due to currency depreciation. Extra flight fees to be waived for 3 days: Commerce Adviser Asked about a Tk 786 crore project to construct three new buildings for future ministers, the adviser said he was completely unaware of the matter. “I am not informed at all. I know nothing about this project, so I cannot comment on it.” The commerce adviser also stressed the need for aligning project spending strictly with realistic income sources.

Businessmen have raised the price of edible oil in the market without obtaining approval from the Ministry of Commerce, increasing the price of bottled soybean oil by Tk 9 per litre — a move that will face action, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said on Wednesday (December 03, 2025). During visits to several markets in the city, five-litre bottles of soybean oil were found selling at Tk 965, up from Tk 922 just days ago. Aseem Halder, a grocer at Uttar Badda Kacha Bazar, said, “Companies have increased soybean oil prices by Tk 9 per litre. What was Tk 189 per litre is now Tk 198. Loose soybean oil has also gone up by Tk 5 per litre.” Read more: Govt to allow onion import to curb price hike: Commerce Adviser  Asked whether the ministry approved the hike, the adviser said traders raised prices without notifying the government. “They did not discuss the matter with the ministry,” he told reporters. “Just a few days ago, through a tender, they offered us soybean oil at Tk 20 less per litre than the existing market rate. We purchased 50 lakh litres of soybean oil. I don’t know on what grounds they have now increased the price,” he said. The adviser said the ministry will sit with traders soon, and if they fail to justify the hike, the new prices will not be approved. Read more: BERC raises LPG price for December When asked how traders raised prices without government clearance, he added, “They tried to increase prices in October as well, but we didn’t approve it — and the market didn’t follow the hike either. We will sit with them again.” Regarding commodity prices ahead of Ramadan, the adviser said the prices will remain stable as necessary measures have already been taken, and mentioned that the prices of chickpeas, sugar and lentils have recently declined. According to the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association, companies sent a letter to the ministry on November 10 seeking approval to raise soybean oil prices. On November 24, they again recommended a price adjustment, but the ministry did not respond. Read more: Raiding retailers won’t help, real culprits must be caught: Adviser Bashir

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Tuesday (11th November 2025) said that raids on retail and mid-level outlets have limited impact, as the main perpetrators behind market irregularities often escape accountability.  “Our goal is to protect consumers’ interests, not to restrict trade,” he said on Tuesday while speaking at a views-exchange meeting with edible oil delivery order (DO) traders at the commerce ministry. The adviser emphasised that facilitating both domestic and international trade is the ministry’s core function, and it has been working sincerely to achieve that objective. “As consumers ourselves, it’s only natural that my ministry and I will work in favour of consumer welfare,” he said, urging DO traders to cooperate and provide guidance in stabilising the market. Warning that decisive measures will be taken to protect consumer rights, Bashir Uddin said such steps would be taken regardless of who they affect. Read more: Govt working on Tk 100-crore fund to revive jute bags: Adviser Bashir He said the traditional practice of controlling the edible oil market through raids at retail or mid-level shops has proven largely ineffective. “The entire supply chain—from producers or importers to DO traders, wholesalers, and retailers—must come under regulatory oversight,” he said, adding that mill owners, DO traders, or both might be responsible for market instability. “It’s unrealistic to think a small retailer hiding 500 bottles of oil under his counter is causing market chaos. TV channels may show dramatic footage of oil seizures, the public may applaud, but in reality, such drives achieve nothing. The small grocer is blamed while the real manipulators walk free,” the adviser said. Bashir Uddin said the government will make sure no one can destabilise the edible oil market, and vowed to identify and act against the real offenders. At the meeting, DO traders complained about not receiving products on time from mill owners and urged the ministry to resolve the issue. Read more: Vitamin-fortified safe edible oil essential to protect public health: Speakers

The government will allow onion import from any country to bring down its soaring prices. Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin announced the decision at a press briefing following a meeting to set the export targets for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The adviser said imports will be approved based on market demand and supply. Onion prices surge in Bangladesh amid import halt, supply shortages "Our main objective is to reduce onion prices and increase supply.Therefore, we will allow imports from wherever the lowest price can be found, not just from India," he said. The price of onions has increased from Tk 60 to Tk 80-85 per kilogram over the past week. Although the government has announced the import decision the exact timeline and quantity have not yet been announced yet.

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Tuesday said rawhides this year have fetched the highest prices in the past decade, thanks to effective government steps, despite some spoilage by seasonal traders. "Some misinformation is being circulated. While it is true that a few hides were spoiled, this was due to errors made by temporary, seasonal traders. Even those damaged hides are being sold at relatively good prices," he told reporters after visiting the Chakbaidyanath Leather Market in Natore town. The adviser said the enhanced capacity in the leather sector, brought about by government initiatives, has contributed to improved pricing. “To stimulate the demand, the government has lifted the ban on the export of wet-blue leather,” he added. No mercy for corruption, says Home Adviser Bashir Uddin also called on the relevant authorities to ensure a more inclusive business environment. “We no longer wish to limit our trade to dependence on one or two countries. Our goal is to expand trade relations with India, Pakistan, China, Europe, and other global markets,” said the adviser. He urged the media to provide comprehensive coverage of the situation rather than focusing on isolated incidents or presenting partial narratives.

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Monday said the government has been working to dismantle the powerful syndicates formed over the past 15 years centring the leather industry. Speaking to journalists after inspecting preparations for managing sacrificial animal hides at the largest leather market in the southwest region at Rajarhat in Jashore, the Adviser emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting the interests of orphanages and madrasas involved in the leather trade. He said the country’s leather industry has suffered from extensive mismanagement and chaos over the past 15 years, leading to its significant decline. “Our efforts prioritise the welfare of madrasas and orphanages, while also focusing on the overall recovery and future of the leather sector. The government is taking nationwide action to break illegal syndicates and revive the industry,” Bashir said. 7.74 Lakh Qurbani rawhides preserved in Chattogram Division To ensure fair pricing and preservation of raw hides, the government has distributed 7.5 lakh maunds of salt across the country, the Adviser said, criticising seasonal traders for mishandling hides due to a lack of knowledge, which resulted in financial losses.  

Commerce Adviser SK Bashir Uddin has been assigned  the additional responsibility for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. A gazette notification in this regard was issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday. Bashiruddin has been serving as  the adviser to the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute. Action taken against Meghna Alam in line with law: Khoda Bakhsh A F Hassan Ariff, who was given the charge of the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, died on December 20 last year. Following his death, the charge of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry was temporarily entrusted with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus. With the latest reassignment, Bashir Uddin will now oversee the ministry, reducing the number of ministries under the Chief Adviser to five.

Commerce Adviser SK Bashir Uddin on Tuesday said that rice prices are expected to become more affordable within the next two weeks as Boro rice arrives in the market. The adviser was speaking to journalists following a meeting held to review the overall situation regarding the import and supply of edible oil and other issues at the Secretariat. “Unfortunately, rice prices have remained high for quite some time. However,  Boro rice will arrive in the market within two weeks. The finer varieties of rice—particularly Najirshail and Miniket—are primarily produced during the boro season,” he said. He also mentioned that the weather conditions remained favourable this year, while the electricity supply was stable along with adequate fertiliser availability and all these have contributed positively to agricultural production. Soybean oil prices go up ".....we expect a good harvest of paddy this year, which will hopefully lead to more affordable rice prices," he said. Noting that agro-products are inherently dynamic, Bashir said. "We are closely monitoring all essential commodities and taking necessary measures where price stabilisation is needed." When asked whether a visiting delegation from US President Donald Trump would discuss trade relations with Bangladesh, the adviser said, "That will be the only issue of significance."

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Thursday said India's sudden cancellation of trans-shipment facilities will not cause any problem as the government will try to overcome the situation on its own. “These (trans-shipment) facilities have been cancelled abruptly. I held a meeting with all relevant stakeholders yesterday. We do not feel this will create any major issue. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure that our own capacity and competitiveness are not hampered and that our exports continue without any logistical disruptions,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. Regarding the measures taken following the cancellation, the adviser said, “I won’t share those with you at this moment. We are working to address structural and cost-related challenges to enhance our competitiveness. I don’t see any reason for concern here.” Transshipment Facility: Four Bangladeshi trucks sent back from Benapole Port Asked whether Bangladesh plans to send a formal letter to India regarding the cancellation, the adviser said, “We are not considering that at the moment.” Responding to a question over the volume of exports that used India’s trans-shipment facilities, Bashir said, “Around 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of goods used to be exported through Indian ports, particularly Delhi and Kolkata. These were primarily destined for European countries. We hope to quickly resolve this issue by strengthening our own capacity, InshaAllah.” India stops transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export cargo India on Tuesday abruptly cancelled the facility allowing Bangladeshi goods to be shipped to third countries using Indian territories under the trans-shipment arrangement.