Halt of onion import permits at Hili port strands hundreds of trucks in India

Importers have voiced concern over the sudden suspension of onion import permits through the Hili Land Port in Dinajpur and urged the government to resume the approvals without further delay.

At the same time, they requested that those who have already applied for permits and loaded onion consignments onto trucks in India be allowed to ensure their imports.

Additionally, the traders urged the authorities concerned to withdraw the mandatory minimum requirement of 30 tonnes for import permits.

The Hili Land Port Importers and Exporters Association made the demand during a press conference held at their office on Wednesday.

According to an official statement, the government issued onion import permits (IPs) on 14 August through Hili Land Port, which boosted domestic supply and helped stabilise prices.  

However, on 19 August, the issuance of IPs was once again suspended, plunging the importers into a difficult situation.

Many importers who purchased onions in India and loaded them onto trucks still have their cargo stranded there.

Transporting onions from India to Bangladesh usually takes 5–6 days. The sudden halt of permit issuance has left over a hundred trucks stranded at the border, causing significant financial losses for the importers.

Among others, the Hili Land Port Importers and Exporters Group’s Vice President Shahidul Islam, General Secretary Nazmul Haque, importer Ripon Hossain and other members were present at the press conference.