United News of Bangladesh

The price of green chillies would come down to a tolerable level within the next two to five days, as the government allowed the import of green chillies from tomorrow, said Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid on Sunday. The government has allowed the import of green chillies and decided to reduce the existing import tax in a bid to stabilise prices, he said to reporters while visiting Shantinagar Kitchen Market in the capital. Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari were present there to review the supply, prices and overall market situation of essential commodities. Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation Md Abdus Salam was also present during the visit. The ministers interacted with traders and consumers and inquired about the supply and prices of daily essentials. Speaking to reporters after the inspection, the agriculture minister said the government had taken prompt measures to stabilise the market by allowing green chilli imports and reducing the applicable import tax.  "Import activities will begin from tomorrow, and we expect prices to come down to a reasonable level within two to five days," he said. Commerce Minister Muktadir said the government would take all necessary measures to keep the market affordable for consumers. He also urged journalists to present objective reports based on their field observations, saying accurate reporting would help create public awareness, reduce misinformation and discourage artificial shortages and price manipulation. Earlier in the day, the commerce and agriculture ministers and the state minister for food attended a meeting at the Commerce Ministry to review the overall market situation of essential food and agricultural commodities and determine the necessary course of action.