India
Hasina, Modi look forward to CEPA as next step up in ties
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have said they look forward to getting negotiations going on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) for their two countries, covering trade in goods, services, and protecting and promoting investment.
Expressing satisfaction at the implementation of development cooperation projects, they looked forward to the joint inauguration of three projects (Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link, Unit-II of the Maitri Power Plant and Khulna-Mongla Rail Link) at a convenient date later.
The two leaders had a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Friday (September 08, 2023).
PM Hasina is visiting India as its guest country to participate in the G-20 Leaders Summit on 9-10 September 2023.
Read more: Hasina, Modi agree to resolve outstanding bilateral issues through talks
With regard to the regional situation, Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation of the burden shouldered by Bangladesh in hosting over a million persons displaced from Rakhine State in Myanmar, and conveyed India's constructive and positive approach to support solutions towards safe and sustainable repatriation of the refugees.
The Indian side welcomed the Indo-Pacific Outlook announced by Bangladesh recently, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (Indian Foreign Ministry).
The leaders agreed to continue working together to intensify their wide-ranging engagement.
The two leaders discussed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation including political and security cooperation, border management, trade and connectivity, water resources, power and energy, development cooperation, cultural and people to people ties. Current developments in the region and cooperation in the multilateral fora were also discussed.
Read more: Dhaka, New Delhi sign 3 MoUs after Hasina-Modi talks
They welcomed the operationalization of the Agreement on the use of the Chattogram and Mongla Ports and commissioning of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.
They also expressed appreciation for operationalization of settlement of bilateral trade in INR (rupee) and encouraged the business community on both sides to utilize the mechanism.
Hasina thanked Modi for the hospitality of the government and people of India, as the two leaders looked forward to continuing interactions at all levels.
Read more: Hasina, Modi didn't talk about Bangladesh election: Momen
New Delhi got a makeover for the G20 summit. The city's poor say they were simply erased
NEW DELHI, Sept 4 (AP/UNB) — New Delhi's crowded streets have been resurfaced. Streetlights are illuminating once dark sidewalks. City buildings and walls are painted with bright murals and graffiti. Planted flowers are everywhere.
Many of the city’s poor say they were simply erased, much like the stray dogs and monkeys that have been removed from some neighborhoods, as India's capital got its makeover ahead of this week's summit of the Group of 20 nations.
Read: Biden to attend next month's G-20 summit in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government hopes the elaborate effort to make New Delhi sparkle — a “beautification project” with a price tag of $120 million — will help showcase the world’s most populous nation’s cultural prowess and strengthen its position on the global stage.
But for many street vendors and those crammed into New Delhi's shantytowns, the makeover has meant displacement and loss of livelihood, raising questions about the government's policies on dealing with poverty. In a city of more than 20 million people, the 2011 census had the homeless at 47,000 but activists say that was a vast underestimate and that the real number is at least 150,000.
Since January, hundreds of houses and roadside stalls have been demolished, displacing thousands of people. Dozens of shantytowns were raised to the ground, with many residents getting eviction notices only a short while before the demolitions got underway.
Read: Bangladesh’s New Delhi mission pays homage to Bangabandhu
Authorities say the demolitions were carried out against “illegal encroachers,” but right activists and those evicted question the policy and allege that it has pushed thousands more into homelessness.
Similar demolitions have also been carried out in other Indian cities like Mumbai and Kolkata that have hosted various G20 events leading up to this weekend's summit.
Activists say it was more than just a case of out of sight, out of mind.
Abdul Shakeel, with the activist group Basti Suraksha Manch, or Save Colony Forum, says that “in the name of beautification, the urban poor’s lives are destroyed.”
Read:Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline to vastly improve transport of diesel: New Delhi
“The money used for G20 is taxpayers' money. Everyone pays the tax. Same money is being used to evict and displace them,” he said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
The two-day global summit will take place at the newly constructed Bharat Mandapam building, a sprawling exhibition center in the heart of New Delhi near the landmark India Gate monument — and scores of world leaders are expected to attend. The G20 includes the world’s 19 wealthiest countries plus the European Union. India currently holds its presidency, which rotates annually among the members.
In July, a report by the Concerned Citizens Collective, a rights activist group, found that the preparations for the G20 summit resulted in the displacement of nearly 300,000 people, particularly from the neighborhoods that foreign leaders and diplomats will visit during various meetings.
At least 25 shantytowns and multiple night shelters for the homeless were razed to the ground and turned into parks, the report said, adding that the government failed to provide alternative shelters or places for the newly homeless.
Last month, Indian police intervened to stop a meeting of prominent activists, academics and politicians critical of Modi and his government’s role in hosting the G20 summit and questioning whose interests the summit would benefit.
“I can see the homeless on the streets ... and now the homeless are not allowed to live on the streets either,” said Rekha Devi, a New Delhi resident who attended the Aug. 20 gathering.
Devi, whose home was demolished in one of the drives, said authorities refused to consider documents she showed as proof that her family had lived in the same house for nearly 100 years.
“Everyone is behaving as if they are blind," Devi said. "In the name of the G20 event, the farmers, workers and the poor are suffering.”
Read: 53rd DG level border talks begin in New Delhi
Home to 1.4 billion people, India’s struggle to end poverty remains daunting, even though a recent government report said that nearly 135 million — almost 10% of the country’s population — moved out of so-called multidimensional poverty between 2016 and 2021. The concept takes into consideration not just monetary poverty but also how lack of education, infrastructure and services affect a person’s quality of life.
Indian authorities have been criticized in the past for clearing away homeless encampments and shantytowns ahead of major events.
In 2020, the government hastily erected a half-kilometer (1,640-foot) brick wall in the state of Gujarat ahead of a visit by then-President Donald Trump, with critics saying it was built to block the view of a slum area inhabited by more than 2,000 people. Similar demolitions were also carried out during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Some street vendors say they are helpless, stuck between sacrificing their livelihoods for India’s pride and wanting to earn a living.
Shankar Lal, who sells chickpea curry with fried flatbread, said authorities told him three months ago to move away. These days, the only time he gets to open his stall along a busy New Delhi road near the G20 summit venue is on Sundays, when police pay less attention to the street vendors.
It's not enough to eke out a living.
“These are government rules, and we’ll do what we are told," Lal said. "The government doesn’t know whether we are dying of hunger or not.”
India launches spacecraft to study the sun after successful landing near the moon's south pole
India launched its first space mission to study the sun on Saturday, less than two weeks after a successful uncrewed landing near the south polar region of the moon.
The Aditya-L1 spacecraft took off on board a satellite launch vehicle from the Sriharikota space center in southern India on a quest to study the sun from a point about 1.5 million kilometers (930,000 miles) from earth.
Read : Chandrayaan-3 a glowing testament to what India can achieve with passion: Indian Cabinet
The spacecraft is equipped with seven payloads to study the sun's corona, chromosphere, photosphere and solar wind, the Indian Space Research Organization said.
India became the first country to land a spacecraft near the moon's south pole on Aug. 23 — a historic voyage to uncharted territory that scientists believe could hold vital reserves of frozen water. After a failed attempt to land on the moon in 2019, India joined the United States, the Soviet Union and China as only the fourth country to achieve this milestone.
The sun study, combined with India's successful moon landing, would completely change the image of ISRO in the world community, said Manish Purohit, a former ISRO scientist.
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The Aditya-L1 was headed for the L1 point of the Earth-Sun system, which affords an uninterrupted view of the sun, ISRO said. "This will provide a greater advantage of observing solar activities and their effect on space weather in real-time."
Once in place, the satellite would provide reliable forewarning of an onslaught of particles and radiation from heightened solar activity that has the potential to knock out power grids on Earth, said B.R. Guruprasad, a space scientist, in an article in The Times of India newspaper. The advanced warning can protect the satellites that are the backbone of global economic structure as well as the people living in space stations.
Read : Bangladesh’s development, growing capabilities stood to add value to G20 discussions: India
"Those seven payloads are going to study the sun as a star in all the possible spectrum positions that we have visible, ultraviolet, and X-ray. … It's like we're going to get a black and white image, the color image and the high-definition image, 4K image of the sun, so that we don't miss out on anything that is happening on the sun," Purohit said.
Bangladeshis, Indians, Nepalis and Pakistanis expected to live 5 years less due to air pollution: AQLI
Particulate air pollution remains the greatest external risk to human health, but most of its impact on global life expectancy is concentrated in just six countries, with Bangladesh being one of the most polluted in the world.
As global pollution edged upward in 2021, so did its burden on human health, according to new data from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI).
If the world were to permanently reduce fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline, the average person would add 2.3 years onto their life expectancy—or a combined 17.8 billion life-years saved worldwide.
This data makes clear that particulate pollution remains the world’s greatest external risk to human health, with the impact on life expectancy comparable to that of smoking, more than 3 times that of alcohol use and unsafe water, and more than 5 times that of transport injuries like car crashes. Yet, the pollution challenge worldwide is vastly unequal.
Read: Urgent, coordinated actions needed to curb air pollution in South Asia: World Bank
In no other location on the planet is the deadly impact of pollution more visible than in South Asia, home to the four most polluted countries in the world and nearly a quarter of the global population.
In Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, the AQLI data reveal that residents are expected to lose about 5 years off their lives on average if the current high levels of pollution persist.
“Three-quarters of air pollution’s impact on global life expectancy occurs in just six countries, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria and Indonesia, where people lose one to more than six years off their lives because of the air they breathe,” said Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and creator of the AQLI along with colleagues at the Energy Policy Institute in University of Chicago (EPIC).
For the last five years, the AQLI’s local information on air quality and its health consequences has generated substantial media and political coverage, but there is an opportunity to complement this annual information with more frequent—for example, daily—and locally generated data.
Read: Dhaka’s air pollution: HC asks what steps have been taken
Indeed, many polluted countries lack basic air pollution infrastructure. Asia and Africa are the two most poignant examples.
They contribute 92.7 percent of life-years lost due to pollution. Yet, just 6.8 and 3.7 percent of governments in Asia and Africa, respectively, provide their citizens with fully open air quality data.
Furthermore, just 35.6 and 4.9 percent of countries in Asia and Africa, respectively, have air quality standards—the most basic building block for policies.
The collective current investments in global air quality infrastructure also do not match where air pollution is having its greatest toll on human life. While there is a large global fund for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis that annually disburses USD 4 billion towards the issues, there is no equivalent set of coordinated resources for air pollution.
Read: Air pollution 2nd biggest cause of deaths in Bangladesh in 2019, cost about 3.9-4.4% of GDP: World Bank
In fact, the entire continent of Africa receives under USD 300,000 in philanthropic funds towards air pollution (i.e. the current average price of a single-family home in the United States).
Only USD 1.4 million goes to Asia, outside of China and India. Europe, the United States, and Canada, meanwhile, receive USD 34 million, according to the Clean Air Fund.
“Timely, reliable, open air quality data in particular can be the backbone of civil society and government’s clean air efforts—providing the information that people and governments lack and that allows for more informed policy decisions,” said Christa Hasenkopf, the director of AQLI and air quality programs at EPIC.
“Fortunately, we see an immense opportunity to play a role in reversing this by better targeting—and increasing—our funding dollars to collaboratively build the infrastructure that is missing today,” she added.
Read: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants
China
Although the challenge of reducing air pollution across the world may seem daunting, China has had remarkable success, reducing pollution by 42.3 percent since 2013, the year before the country began a “war against pollution.”
Due to these improvements, the average Chinese citizen can expect to live 2.2 years longer, provided the reductions are sustained. However, the pollution in China is still six times higher than the WHO guideline, taking 2.5 years off life expectancy.
Southeast Asia
Like South Asia, almost all of Southeast Asia (99.9 percent) is now considered to have unsafe levels of pollution, with pollution increasing in a single year by as much as 25 percent in some regions. Residents living in the most polluted parts of Southeast Asia are expected to lose 2 to 3 years of life expectancy on average.
Central and West Africa
While Asian countries rightly receive the most media coverage about extreme levels of air pollution, the African countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Republic of Congo are amongst the ten most polluted countries in the world. In the most polluted areas of these regions, pollution levels are 12 times the WHO guideline and taking as much as 5.4 years off lives—becoming as much of a health threat as well-known killers in the region like HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Read: UN report: Climate pollution reductions 'highly inadequate'
Latin America
While average air quality is at an unsafe but relatively low level across the region, the most polluted areas—located within Guatemala, Bolivia, and Peru—experience air quality similar to pollution hotspots like Pune in India and Harbin in China. In these regions, the average resident would gain 3 to 4.4 years of life expectancy if their air quality met the WHO guideline.
United States
In the United States, Americans are exposed to 64.9 percent less particulate pollution than in 1970—prior to the passage of the Clean Air Act—and they’re living 1.4 years longer because of it. Yet, 96 percent of the country still doesn’t meet the WHO’s new guideline of 5 µg/m³. This year, the EPA proposed to lower the national standard from 12 μg/m³ to 9-10 µg/m³, gaining 3.2 million total life years if the upper limit of that proposed standard were met. In 2021, 20 out of the top 30 most polluted counties were in California due to the impact of wildfires.
Europe
In Europe, residents are exposed to about 23.5 percent less pollution than they were in 1998, soon after the Air Quality Framework Directive started, gaining 4.5 months of life expectancy because of it. Yet, 98.4 percent of Europe still doesn’t meet the WHO’s new guideline. In 2022, the EU proposed ratcheting down their standard of 25 µg/m³ to 10 µg/m³ by 2030, gaining 80.3 million total life years if the proposed standard were met. Residents in eastern Europe are living 7.2 months less than their western neighbors due to dirtier air.
Read more: 9-point directive on air pollution: HC asks DoE to submit report within 2 weeks
ISRO Chandrayaan-3: 9 Women Scientists Who Led India’s Moon Landing
Roles assumed by women have undergone a profound evolution. Transitioning from traditional nurturing responsibilities, they have emerged as indispensable contributors across diverse domains, including science and technology. Chandrayaan-3 hailed the women scientists who led India’s moon landing. This article serves as a tribute to the female engineers who orchestrated the expedition, making groundbreaking history.
Groundbreaking Chandrayaan-3 mission
ISRO, or the Indian Space Research Organisation, is India's national space agency. Chandrayaan-3 marks the third chapter in its lunar exploration saga through the Chandrayaan program. Its purpose is to explore the moon's surface, study lunar composition, and demonstrate soft landing capabilities.
Embarking on a transformative lunar exploration journey, Chandrayaan-3 stands as a testament to India's space ambitions. Launched on July 14, 2023, from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, this mission is an extension of ISRO's lunar program, aiming to explore the moon's mysteries with precision.
Read more: 3 Bangladeshi women make it to list of top 100 Asian scientists
The mission comprises the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover, symbolising technological innovation. The propulsion module facilitated the lunar orbit insertion, a crucial step, achieved on August 5, 2023. This propelled the spacecraft into an orbit around the moon, preparing for a historic lunar landing.
Vikram, equipped with four landing legs and thrusters, carries both Pragyan and scientific instruments for lunar analysis. Pragyan, the six-wheeled rover, embarked on an odyssey across the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-3's triumphant lunar descent on August 23, 2023 showcased India's prowess in soft landings. With meticulous calculations, Vikram achieved a controlled touchdown, setting the stage for Pragyan's mission.
Read more: New crew for the space station launches with 4 astronauts from 4 countries
Pioneering Women Scientists behind Chandrayaan-3 Mission
Within Chandrayaan-3's celestial voyage, a constellation of remarkable women scientists emerges. This assembly of 54 adept female engineers and scientists exemplifies the culmination of scientific excellence intertwined with relentless determination. Here are the nine leading women scientists who were part of India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission.
Ritu Karidhal Srivastava
This accomplished Indian scientist and aerospace engineer started on her ISRO journey in 1997. As the Deputy Operations Director of India's Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), she played a pivotal role in orchestrating the spacecraft's autonomy system. It enables the spaceship to navigate space autonomously and respond to anomalies with precision.
Fondly referred to as one of India's "Rocket Women," Ritu's contributions were undeniable in propelling India into the exclusive league of space explorers. Her expertise resonates in conceptualizing and executing the craft's onward autonomy system. It was a cornerstone of the mission's success.
Read more: 10 Greatest Female Scientists of All Time
Kalpana Kalahasti
Kalpana, armed with an aeronautical engineering degree from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, entered ISRO in 2003 as a scientist. Her illustrious career includes diverse satellite projects, including communication and remote sensing satellites. This expertise has transformed India's capabilities in data collection and communication.
The significant milestones of her career include Mars Orbiter Mission and Chandrayaan-2. Her ingenious design of propulsion systems and imaging equipment exemplified her engineering prowess. Notably, her integral role in the Chandrayaan-2 and Mangalyaan missions underscores her versatility and indelible contributions.
Dr. V. R. Lalithambika
Dr. V. R. Lalithambika, a stalwart since 1988, carved her niche in the realm of Advanced Launcher Technologies. Her journey with ISRO commenced at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), where she joined as a young engineer. Over the years, she led a team that designed rocket control and guidance systems, an integral aspect of mission success. Her expertise spans over a hundred space missions, reflecting her adeptness in engineering and leadership.
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Fire inside a parked train's private compartment kills nine in southern India
A fire erupted inside a stationary train compartment at a railway station in southern India killing nine people on Saturday morning, officials said.
The blaze broke out early at 5 a.m. and burned for two hours before firefighters were able to put it out, authorities said.
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It started inside a train's private compartment which was detached and parked on the railway tracks in the Madurai station, located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, according to a statement by the Southern Railway.
A gas cylinder smuggled in by some passengers caused the fire, the statement read, adding that police, fire and rescue officials helped pull out the bodies from the coach. There was no damage to other coaches.
Also read : PM Hasina writes to Modi hailing India’s historic landing on Moon
Southern Railway did not divulge the number of people inside the compartment at the time of the fire but said many managed to get out.
Officials told the Press Trust of India news agency that 20 others were injured and taken to hospital.
Also read : India becomes the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon
Accidents are common on India's railroad network, one of the world's largest, with some 22 million passengers daily. Most collisions and fires are blamed on poor maintenance and human error.
In June, a deadly train collision killed over 290 people in one of India's worst train accidents.
17 killed, many injured as under-construction railway bridge collapses in India's Mizoram
NEW DELHI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua/UNB) -- At least 17 workers were killed and many others injured Wednesday after an under-construction overhead railway bridge collapsed in India's northeastern state of Mizoram, officials said.
The bridge collapsed in Sairang town, about 21 km northwest of Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram.
Also read : India's spacecraft is preparing to land on the moon in the country's second attempt in 4 years
"Under-construction railway over bridge at Sairang, near Aizawl collapsed today. At least 17 workers died," Zoramthanga, Chief Minister of Mizoram, said in a brief statement.
According to Zoramthanga, the rescue operation on the spot was underway.
He has expressed grief over the deaths and extended sympathy to the families of the victims.
"Deeply saddened and affected by this tragedy. I extend my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to the injured."
Also read : Onion prices cross Tk 100 per kg in Dhaka after India imposes extra duty
Officials said immediately after the bridge collapse that locals reached the spot to help pull out victims from the debris.
The authorities have also rushed rescuers from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, local administration and railway officials to the site.
"Sending gratitude to the people who have come out in large numbers to help with rescue operations," he said.
Reports said there were 40 workers at the construction site at the time of the bridge collapse.
The officials fear some of the workers might be under the debris.
Also read : Indian national held with 981 grams gold at Chattogram airport
The cause of the bridge collapse was not immediately known.
Federal railways ministry has ordered a probe into the incident and announced compensation for the victims.
"Grieved by the unfortunate incident in Mizoram. NDRF, state administration and railway officials are at the site. Rescue operations going on at war footing," federal railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
He also announced an ex-gratia compensation of 12,065 U.S. dollars to each family that lost a member in the incident, 2,413 U.S. dollars to each seriously injured and 603 U.S. dollars to each person with minor injuries.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed his anguish over the incident and announced a separate compensation of 2,413 U.S. dollars to each family that lost a member in the incident and 603 U.S. dollars to each injured from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
Indian national held with 981 grams gold at Chattogram airport
Customs Intelligence arrested an Indian national along with 981 grams of gold from Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport on Monday.
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The arrestee was identified as Tushar Nagin Das.
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Ahsan Ullah, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Airport Customs and Intelligence Department, said Tushar landed at the airport from Sharjah by a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines in the morning and he was scheduled to go to Dhaka.
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Suspecting movement of Tushar, the customs officials challenged him and seized 981 grams of gold after searching his body and luggage.
Over 70,000 affected by floods in India's Punjab
The flood situation in the northern Indian state of Punjab has remained grim as the flood water on Monday entered more villages inundating houses, crop lands and roads.
At least 36 villages in Tarn Taran, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts were inundated due to fresh breaches in the Sutlej river.
Also read : Onion prices soar in Khulna market after India slaps duty on export
Officials said the situation in the Sutlej remained dangerous in Ferozepur district and authorities are watching closely the situation at vulnerable locations along the embankments.
According to officials, so far over 70,000 people have been affected by the floods in the seven affected districts.
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Floods in Punjab were triggered by the release of water from the Bhakra and Pong dams in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.
Last week landslides, cloudbursts, flash floods and house collapses triggered by heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh killed over 70 people. The incessant rains also pushed the water level up in several dams of the state.
Reports said at least 20,000 residents of nearly a dozen villages in Punjab's Fazilka district were facing fresh flooding in the wake of the heavy discharge from the Hussainiwala Headworks. With roads waterlogged these villages are at present connected to the mainland only through boats.
Also read : India imposes 40% duty on onion exports effective today
Meanwhile, the situation in villages in Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Rupnagar and Hoshiarpur districts has started improving.
The overflow of the Sutlej river has also led to the drowning of posts of border guards belonging to the Border Security Force. Many outposts and fencing on the Ferozepur border of Punjab have been submerged. In addition, 14 villages have been cut off from other districts. The local administration is trying to establish contact with these villages.
Authorities in these flood-hit districts have deployed teams of the National Disaster Response Force, army and border guards to carry out rescue operations.
Meanwhile, a local media report said police in Ludhiana district booked four persons who were allegedly found fishing and bathing in the raging waters of swollen Sutlej. The local administration has already issued warnings to the public to avoid going near the banks.
Last month floods also hit 19 districts of the state, claiming 41 lives.
Onion prices soar in Khulna market after India slaps duty on export
Onion prices have gone up in Khulna market just after the India's imposition of 40 percent duty on its export which came into effect from Sunday (August 20).
The prices of onion have increased by Tk 10-15 per kg in the local market just in a day.
On Sunday, Indian onions were being sold at Tk 65-70 per kg, while local onions at Tk 90 per kg. But on Saturday, per kg of Indian and local variety onions were sold at Tk 55-60 and Tk 75 per kg respectively.
Read: India imposes 40% duty on onion exports effective today
Sujan and Kawsar, traders of Mylapota Sandhya Bazar in the town, said that there is no shortage of onion in the market.
However, they are paying Tk 10-15 more for buying per kg of onion. As a result, onions have to be sold at a higher price, they added.
On August 19, the Revenue Department of the Indian Finance Ministry imposed a 40 percent duty on onion export to check price hike.
Read: Indian onions start arriving through land ports as import resumes
Importers said earlier they paid no tax for importing onions from India. Due to the 40 percent duty, an extra Tk 15-19 per kg will have to be counted.
An Indian gazette notification signed by Amreeta Titus, deputy secretary of the Revenue Department under the Finance Ministry, said the duty will remain effective till December 31 this year.
Indian exporters said onion prices are soaring in the country and the government has imposed the duty to discourage exports.
Read: Proper preservation of onions to end instability, crisis: Agriculture Minister
Buyers said that the prices of onion have increased compared to the last few days. Onions may be stockpiled by unscrupulous traders on the pretext of import duty that may cause further rise in prices, they feared.
Ibrahim Hossain, deputy director of the Khulna divisional office of the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection, said that they are monitoring the market.