Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Saturday categorically said that if meat is imported, the people can expect the price between Tk 400 and Tk450 per kilogram.
“But, we do not have any plans to import meat, considering the interests of local farmers,” the commerce minister told a questioner after attending a function held at the Film Development Corporation in Dhaka this noon.
He made the comments at a time when the beef prices declined after witnessing a skyrocketing hike over the last one year in the country.
Ox meat was sold at Tk650-700 per kg and cow meat at Tk600 per kg at butchers’ shops in markers in the capital, including Mirpur, Malibagh, Rampura, Badda, Mohammadpur, Shewrapara and some other areas on Friday.
Munshi said that half a percent of the country’s total sacrificial cows had to be imported from India but at present not a single cow has to be imported rather there is a surplus.
Many new entrepreneurs have entered the sector and many educated youths are involved in cattle farming instead of pursuing jobs, he said and added his government does not want to import meat considering their interest.
Responding to another query over the egg price, he said that the price of eggs has decreased by Tk 20 to Tk 30 per dozen following the import of only 62,000 eggs and a similar trend is being observed with potatoes.
That indicates there is a sufficient stock of potatoes in the country, but the vested groups are reluctant to sell those in the market in a bid to make extra profit, he said hinting about an organised syndication in the market.
