A total of 123 metric tonnes (MT) of green chilli arrived in the country over the last three days from neighbouring India through Benapole border in Jashore.

Of them, 45MT came on Sunday and Monday respectively and 33 MT on Tuesday. Importers of Dhaka and Khulna brought the green chilli and are sending it to different parts of the country.

Abdul Jalil, director (traffic) at Benapole Land Port Authority, said five trucks carrying 33 MT green chilli entered Benapole from India on Tuesday.

Read: 93 tonnes of green chilli imported amid soaring price

“So far 123 MT of green chilli have entered the country and initiatives were taken to unload those rapidly,” he said, adding that they heard many more trucks-loaded with the perishable item have been waiting at the India end to enter Bangladesh.

Kalimullah, revenue officer of the Benapole Customs House, said they have been completing all legal formalities to unload the consignments of the green chilli on a prioritized basis.

Benapole-based importer and also owner of Usha Trading Rafiqul Islam Royal said Indian exporters collect the green chilli from different areas including Bangaon of West Bengal and then send it to Bangladesh.

Each kg of green chilli may cost Tk 150 to Tk 160 to reach the wholesalers of Dhaka, he said, adding that market toll and other relevant costs will be added to the wholesale price while it is sold at retail level.

Read: 60 tonnes of green chilli imported through Bhomra port

Indian exporter Firoz Biswas said the wholesale price of each kg green chilli in Bangaon is at 160 rupee on Tuesday while the retail price is at 300 rupee. Each kg of green costs only 70 rupee in India’s Nagpur.

The Bangladesh government approved importing 36, 830 MT of green chilli from India to address shortage and curb excessive price of the spicy item.

Each kg of green chilli exceeded Tk 1, 000 at the local markets when the country was celebrating the holy Eid-Ul-Azha.

Amid the severe criticism, the government was compelled to import green chilli.

Read more: Green chilli still selling at Tk600 per kg