A total of 123 tons of green chilli has arrived in Bangladesh over the last three days from neighbouring India through the Benapole border in Jessore.
Ninety tons came on Sunday and Monday, and another 33 tons 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 the Benapole Land Port Authority, said five trucks carrying 33 tons of green chilli entered Benapole from India on Tuesday.
“So far 123 tons of green chilli have entered the country. Initiatives were taken to unload them rapidly,” he said, adding that they heard many more trucks loaded with the perishable item have been waiting at the Indian end to enter Bangladesh.
Kalimullah, revenue officer at the Benapole Customs House, said they have been completing all legal formalities to unload the consignments of the green chilli on a priority basis.
Benapole-based importer and also owner of Usha Trading Rafiqul Islam Royal said Indian exporters collect green chilli from different areas, including Bangaon of West Bengal, and then send it to Bangladesh.
Each kg of green chilli may cost Tk150-160 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 the retail level.
Indian exporter Firoz Biswas said the wholesale price of each kg green chilli in Bangaon was 160 rupees on Tuesday and the retail price was 300 rupees. Each kg costs only 70 rupees in India's Nagpur.
The Bangladesh government approved importing 36,830 tons of green chilli from India to address a shortage and curb the excessive price of the spicy item.
The price of each kg of green chilli exceeded Tk1,000 at local markets when the country was celebrating the holy Eid-ul-Azha.
Amid severe criticism, the government was compelled to import green chilli.