Rotten onions selling for high profits

FT ONLINE

Md Selim, a labourer in Khatunganj, bought 200 kilograms of rotten onions at a rate of Tk30 per kg two days ago. 

He made a profit of Tk400 by selling 20kg of the onions, at a rate of Tk50 per kg, after drying the onions in the sun.

Wholesalers in Khatunganj market are selling rotten onions imported from Myanmar at a lower rate. Some people like Selim are buying the onions and selling those in residential areas and various markets. 

Many consumers are buying those onions as the prices of fresh onions have exceeded Tk200 in retail markets.

Selim said, "Though some of my onions get totally rotten, I am making a good profit selling the remaining ones. The profit we are making could not be made by selling fresh ones."

Wholesalers of Khatunganj markets said half of the onions imported last week from Myanmar are rotten. A total of 15 tonnes of rotten onions were dumped to Chaktai Khal and Karnaphuli River.

Some of these rotten onions were sold at Tk20 to Tk50 per kg during last week.

Abdul Quader, a vendor in Lalkhan Bazar area, said, "Many retailers stopped selling onions, resulting in consumers buying from us at a lower rate of Tk80 to Tk100 per kg."