Don't import Indian eggs, say Dhaka poultry operators

As two trucks carrying the first consignment arrived at Benapole Land Port on the border with India, there were widespread protests from the local producers who fear they would be swept out of the market, The Daily Star said Monday.

The government has cleared import of 30 million eggs from India to meet the high demand during the holy Ramadan and Eid festival that will follow.

It also wants to beat the price in the local market that went as high as Taka 32 ($0.46) for 'haali' - four pieces.

The local producers offered wholesale rate of Taka 21.60 after the government moved for imports.

Angered by the imports, they now want to call off their lowered price.

The Indian egg is being quoted at Taka 2.29 apiece - much less than a half of the local price.

Customs officials said Dhaka-based GM Enterprise imported the eggs, which are waiting to be released from the port since Thursday last.

Each of the 299,880 eggs imported in the first shipment has been priced at Tk 2.29 in import costs based on the prices shown by GM Enterprise.

The protestors have raised the fear of avian flu prevailing in parts of India.

"The government has shifted from its early stand against allowing imports of eggs from a bird-flu affected country," Bangladesh Poultry Khamar Rakkha Jatiya Sangram Parishad said in a statement Sunday.

The Parishad referred to a statutory regulatory order issued Aug 12, which imposed restrictions on imports of eggs from any country affected by bird flu.

"Permission to import eggs from India will increase the risk of the spread of bird flu again in the local poultry industry."

Khulna Poultry Fish Feed Shop Owners' Association president Kazi Mohammad Nurul Islam feared that more than 20 million people involved in the industry would lose their jobs.