Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA)

Frequent power outages in Bangladesh are driving up the costs of potato storage, ultimately burdening people already struggling with escalating prices of essential food items.

The annual demand for potatoes in Bangladesh is about 9 million tons. The Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) urged the government to provide a BDT 9 (USD 0.11) subsidy per kilogram of potato stored in various cold storages in the country.

Potato was sold for Tk 42 to Tk 48 a kg in retail markets in the capital yesterday, a day after the government fixed the retail price at Tk 35.

Commerce Minister of Bangladesh, Tipu Munshi on Saturday said Bangladesh has a surplus production of potato after meeting domestic demand. Bangladesh intends to export the surplus.