Bangladesh imported nearly 52 tons of green chillies from India through the Benapole land port in two days amid a sharp rise in prices in the local markets.
On Tuesday evening, three Indian trucks carrying 42,220kg of green chillies entered the port. Another 9,200kg arrived on Monday, taking the two-day total to 51,420kg.
The consignments were cleared and sent to different parts of the country soon after completing port formalities. Shimu Enterprise imported the chillies, with Shimu Shipping Lines acting as the C&F agent.
Benapole Land Port Director (Traffic) Shamim Hossain said several more trucks carrying green chillies are waiting across the border and are expected to enter Bangladesh in the coming days.
Importer Rafiqul Islam said green chillies are being imported from India at $305 per ton. He expects increased imports to bring down prices, which have already fallen to Tk240-250 per kg at the Benapole market from Tk300 on Monday.
The government recently allowed green chilli imports from India to address rising prices and supply shortages. In the first phase, 69 traders received permits to import 29,710 tons of green chillies.