FT ONLINE

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been interrogating ten onion importers for allegedly manipulating onion prices in the local market.

The interrogation has been started at the office of the NBR's Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate in the Kakrail area of the city.

Thirteen businessmen were called today. Ten of them have submitted their companies' related documents to the customs intelligence, said NBR sources.

Three businessmen have taken time as they were called in the local Deputy Commissioner's office.

"We are mainly looking into the invoice price given to the importers and selling price in the country's markets," said Mohammad Neazur Rahman, additional director general of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.

"Our aim is to council the traders, no punishment will be given for now," he said.

Abdul Awal, the proprietor of Bishal Enterprise who attended the hearing among others, said, "Importers like us have no role in raising onion prices."

"We do not keep onions to us for more than a day or two and we sell onions at a certain profit," said Awal adding that it is the responsibility of the government to control prices.