Nearly 100 tonnes of green chillies have been imported from India through the Bhomra land port in Satkhira, as unusually high prices continue to put pressure on consumers across Bangladesh. By Monday evening, the first consignment had entered the country in 10 lorries, with traders hoping that the additional supply will help ease shortages and eventually bring down retail prices.
According to port-related sources, each of the imported lorries was carrying between nine and 11 tonnes of green chillies. Based on that estimate, the initial consignment amounted to roughly 100 tonnes, or around 100,000 kilogrammes. After the necessary customs procedures and payment of applicable duties, the chillies are being prepared for distribution to wholesale markets in different parts of the country.
Mushfiqur Rahman, commissioner of the Bhomra Customs House, said that 10 lorries carrying green chillies from India had entered Bangladesh through the land port by Monday evening. The consignments would be released for supply to domestic markets after completion of the required customs formalities.
Importer Saddan Hossain said the 10-lorry shipment was the first consignment to arrive after permission was granted to import green chillies. He said steps were being taken to send the imported produce to markets across the country as quickly as possible. In his view, continued imports could increase market supply and gradually reduce prices.
The sudden rise in chilli prices has been linked by local traders to disruptions in domestic production. Persistent rainfall in Satkhira and neighbouring areas has reportedly damaged chilli fields, while waterlogging in some agricultural land has affected cultivation and reduced the availability of newly harvested produce. With local supply falling while demand has remained relatively steady, prices have risen sharply within a short period.
Traders said green chillies were selling at around Tk50 a kilogramme only 15 days ago. In recent days, however, the price has climbed to more than Tk250 a kilogramme. This represents an increase of over Tk200 per kilogramme in just two weeks, placing a considerable burden on household budgets. Restaurants, hotels and small food businesses that depend on chillies as a regular cooking ingredient have also been facing higher operating costs.
Rajab Ali, general secretary of the Satkhira City Raw Materials Traders’ Association, said the start of imports from India could improve the availability of green chillies in the domestic market. If the imported produce reaches wholesale markets in different regions without significant delays, supply pressure could ease and prices may begin to fall.
The impact of the imports, however, will depend on several factors, including the continuity of shipments, the speed at which the produce is distributed, and the recovery of domestic cultivation. A single large consignment may provide temporary relief, but traders believe a sustained increase in supply will be necessary to bring prices under lasting control.
The condition of local chilli farms will also remain an important factor. If rainfall subsides and waterlogged fields recover, domestic production and the arrival of fresh produce at local markets could increase. That would provide an additional source of supply alongside imported chillies.
Importers expect the first consignments to reach wholesale markets in different parts of Bangladesh within the next one or two days. They hope that the increased availability will help reduce the supply gap and halt the sharp upward trend in retail prices.
For consumers, the immediate question is whether the arrival of imported chillies will translate into lower prices at retail markets. Traders and buyers will also be watching closely to see whether further consignments arrive regularly from India. If imports continue alongside a gradual recovery in domestic production, market supply could improve significantly, potentially easing the pressure created by the recent price surge.
