Don’t use onion in food: B’desh PM told her cook post export ban

NEW DELHI: India's onion export ban seems to have impacted kitchen of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as she has urged in lighter vein to provide prior information about such decisions.

The Bangladeshi prime minister said that India's sudden decision to stop onion exports has lead to a bit of difficulty for her countrymen.

"I don't know why you stopped onion (exports). So what I did was, I told my cook to not to use onion in food Prior notice of such decisions would help. Suddenly, you stopped and it became a difficulty for us. In future, if you are taking such a decision, prior information would help," she said in a lighter vein.

She was addressing IndiaBangladesh Business Forum here, which was organised by industry chambers, including CII and Assocham. Commerce and industry Minister Piyush Goyal was also present at the event. Last Sunday, India banned exports of onion to increase availability of the commodity in the domestic market and contain spiralling prices. The Centre has also imposed stock limits on both retail and wholsesale traders for onion.

Further talking to enhancing trade and investments between the two countries, she said huge potential exists in Bangladesh for Indian business community in different sectors. She said Bangladesh has the most liberal investment policy in South Asia, and it includes protection of foreign investment by law; generous tax holiday; concessionary duty on import of machinery; unrestricted exit policy; full repatriation of dividend and capital on exit, to name a few.