Chickpeas are very popular in Ramadan Iftar. Apart from this, this food item is in demand throughout the year as a snack.
Chhola dal has a special value in Mejban of Chittagong. Naturally, the chickpea market becomes crowded before Ramadan. Now two months before Ramadan, the gram market is unstable.
Limited quantities of Pakistani Kabli chickpeas have been found to be sold in elite grocery stores or supershops. However, Myanmar chickpeas have not arrived in Khatunganj market yet. However, those concerned say that there will be no shortage of unsold chickpeas from the previous year and newly imported chickpeas during Ramadan.
Khatunganj Dal Mill Association president Sanjay Dev Khokon said that the demand for chickpeas is high during Ramadan. Today, Australian chickpeas are being sold up to Tk 95 per kg. Chickpeas are being sold at Tk 90. Indian chickpeas are being sold at 90 rupees. White peas in Ukraine and Russia are being sold at 67 rupees.
He said importers have imported chickpeas ahead of Ramadan. Once only Khatunganj was an importer of gram. Now there are gram importers all over the country. Booking rate, ship fare, LC cost, other expenses are sold as per the convenience of the chickpeas.
Talking to Messrs. Taibia Traders, it is known that a month ago, good quality gram was 85 taka, medium quality gram was 77 taka. A week ago, good quality was 90 taka, medium quality was 84 taka. Now good quality gram is 94 taka, medium quality 87 taka. But there is no sale.
Good quality Australian chickpeas are being retailed at Rs 100-105 in various grocery stores in the city. Apart from this, old chickpeas are being sold at Tk 85-90.
Central Vice President of Consumer Association of Bangladesh SM Najer Hossain said that the prices are increasing as importers, big wholesalers, small wholesalers, grocers change hands. But the biggest price increase is in retail. Hence the need for coordinated surveillance. At the same time TCB should be strengthened and the market of essential products of Ramadan including gram should be kept stable.
Abul Bashar Chowdhury, chairman of Chittagong’s major grain importer BSM Group, said that the harvesting season of chickpeas in Australia is in October-November. The gram that I have booked for 740 dollars is reading 90-92 taka. Selling 85 Tk.
In response to a question, he said, it is enough for the importers to get a profit of one rupee per kg. In this case, LC consideration of public and private banks, freight, clearance, transportation are different for each importer.
Food grains coming through the port of Chittagong are issued clearance by the plant contamination center. The chief deputy director of the center. Mohammad Shah Alam told BanglaNews that from July 1 to January 23, 1 lakh 39 thousand 227 tons of chickpeas were cleared through Chittagong port. Earlier in the fiscal year 2022-23, 3 lakh 43 thousand 825 tons of chickpeas were released.
