Staff Correspondent

State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu on Wednesday announced that Bangladesh is set to sign agreements with Myanmar and India to import essential goods.

He added that the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will be signing the agreements on behalf of the government.

While speaking at a programme organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat, the state minister said, “We are going to sign an agreement with India to import daily essentials to ensure a smooth supply. We’ll also sign a deal with Myanmar to bring in essential commodities and expand bilateral river-based communication. We have almost finalised an agreement in this regard. We will try to sign the agreement in July,” he said.

Onion, pulse and other daily essentials can be imported from Myanmar, he added.

“We have one goal that is to give some relief to the common people. To some extent, we can keep the market moving. That is why we are taking these steps,” said Titu.

Noting that a number of land ports have been opened, the state minister said, “Along with land ports, we have given importance to border haats (markets). We have border points in many remote areas, at some of which we have set up the haats to increase the facilities of the people living there.”

Replying to a question about whether the price of potato and onion – being sold at Tk70 and Tk90-95 per kg – is normal, the state minister said the prices are normal.

“The price of any product depends on the supply and demand in the market and if we can supply the product in adequate amount, the price will come down automatically,” said the state minister, adding, “we have to make due considerations regarding the market prices of potatoes and onions until there are ample supplies.”

BSRF President Fasih Uddin Mahtab and General Secretary Masudul Haque moderated the programme.