Low Prices Force Salt Farmers to Sell at Tk 310 Per Maund

To address rising egg prices and ensure adequate supply, the government has authorized the import of 18.80 crore eggs through 42 firms, with import permits valid until January 31, according to a Commerce Ministry notification issued on November 19. This comes as two pairs of brown eggs are currently selling for Tk 48–50 in Dhaka, reflecting a 12.64% price hike from Tk 42–45 a year ago.

Midland Bank PLC and BP Manufacturing (BD) Co. Ltd. recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at BP Manufacturing’s headquarters in Uttara EPZ, Nilphamari.

Salt farmers in Cox's Bazar, the hub of Bangladesh's salt production, are reluctant to start cultivation this season despite favorable weather. Unsold stockpiles from the previous season, when a record 24.38 lakh tonnes of salt were produced, have suppressed market prices. Farmers report losses as they are forced to sell their stock for as low as Tk 310 per maund, compared to Tk 400-450 three months ago.

ACI Ltd reported a consolidated loss of Tk 42.21 crore in the July-September period of the 2024-25 financial year, marking a 167% year-on-year increase from Tk 15.8 crore in the same quarter of the previous year. Loss per share rose to Tk 5.54 from Tk 2.07 during the same period. The company attributed the higher losses to elevated borrowing costs stemming from rising interest rates, additional funding for working capital, and strategic investments.