Green Chilli Prices to Ease Within 5 Days: Minister

Green chilli prices are expected to fall to a tolerable level within the next two to five days as the government has approved imports and decided to reduce import duties to stabilise the market, Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid said on Sunday.

The minister made the remarks while visiting Shantinagar Kitchen Market in the capital alongside Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari to review the supply, prices and overall market situation of essential commodities.

Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam also accompanied the ministers during the visit.

The ministers interacted with traders and consumers and assessed the availability and prices of daily essentials.

Speaking to reporters, Aminur Rashid said green chilli imports would begin from Monday following the government's decision to allow imports and lower the existing import tax.

"Import activities will start tomorrow, and we expect prices to come down to a reasonable level within two to five days," he said.

Commerce Minister Muktadir said the government would take all necessary measures to keep essential commodities affordable for consumers.

He also urged journalists to report objectively based on field observations, saying accurate reporting would help prevent misinformation, discourage artificial shortages and curb price manipulation.

Earlier in the day, the commerce and agriculture ministers and the state minister for food attended a meeting at the Ministry of Commerce to review the overall market situation of essential food and agricultural commodities and determine the next course of action.