Dates have always been a special item for Iftar during the Ramadan in Bangladesh. However, in recent years, the fruit has advanced beyond just a Ramadan delicacy to become a common part of daily consumption.
With soaring demand and increased consumer preferences, the country鈥檚 import of dates has surged significantly in the past few years, demonstrating the growing presence of this solely import-dependent item as a daily essential for year-round.
As the consumption of dates has surged significantly, they can be labeled as a daily essential, observed Consumers Association of Bangladesh vice-president SM Nazer Hossain.
According to an official of the National Board of Revenue, the import of dates witnessed a surge in the past few years thanks to growing demands.
Comparing the export data of the last ten years, it is seen that in the financial year 2014-15, Bangladeshi traders imported 26,301 tonnes dates. In the ten years, the import experienced a robust growth and stood 85,345 tonnes in the financial year 2023-24.
鈥楾he consumers consume dates year-round though the government listed dates as luxurious goods. I think, it is no more a luxurious goods,鈥� SM Nazer Hossain added.
He also urged the government to monitor the dates鈥� market both for controlling the prices and to ensure that the consumptions of dates should not put human health at risk.
According to data from the NBR, the dates import surged to 39,046 tonnes in the fiscal year 2015-16 though the import declined in the financial year 2016-17 to 37,851 tonnes.
However, the import of dates then experienced robust growth in fiscal 2017-18 to 63,703 tonnes.
In the 2018-19 FY, Bangladeshi traders imported 57,209 tonnes of dates. However, due to Covid-19 break out, the date import witnessed a decline to 39,790 tonnes in the financial year 2019-20.
From the next financial year, the import of dates saw a healthy growth to 62,200 tonnes in FY 2020-21, followed by 88,961 tonnes in financial year 2021-22 and 84,151 tonnes in financial year 2022-23, NBR data showed.
According to NBR data, in the current financial year of 2024-25, between July 1, 2024, and February 25, 2025, Bangladeshi traders imported 64,490 tonnes of dates.
The Plant Quarantine Station of the Chittagong Seaport also verified the NBR data.
Meanwhile, according to another piece of data from the NBR, Bangladeshi traders imported 1,14,457 tonnes of dates between January 1, 2024, and February 16, 2025.
According to the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, the country鈥簊 annual demand for dates is around 90,000-95,000 tonnes, and the demand in Ramadan is around 60,000-70,000 tons.
Serazul Islam, president of the BFFIA, told 抖阴精品 that the demand for dates during non-Ramadan has surged significantly in the past few years, making them a daily essential thanks to the consumers鈥� purchasing capacity.
He also said that now many people buy dates throughout the year and use them as a food supplement for energy.
Currently, dabas, Jahidi, mabrum, marium, ajwah, medjul, sukkari, and salabi are the widely selling date variants in the country.
Several shops have been set up in the capital to sell costly date variants.
According to NBR data, Bangladesh imports dates mostly from Iraq, Iran, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Kuwait, Jordan, and other countries.
Regarding the overall consumption, CAB鈥檚 SM Nazer Hossain said that the CAB has yet to include all the data regarding the consumption of dates. Still, they are working on it as the consumption is growing significantly.
Meanwhile, the traders hope that the price of dates will not hike significantly this Ramadan as there is an adequate stock of dates ahead of Ramadan.
On November 21, the government slashed and withdrew duties and taxes on dates.
The customs duty on date imports was reduced from 25 per cent to 15 per cent. Furthermore, the advance income tax rate was slashed from
10 per cent to 3 per cent, and the existing 5 per cent advance tax was withdrawn entirely.
Retail traders said that the price of dates has declined at the retail level due to the reduction of taxes and duties.
Talking to 抖阴精品, Mohammad Kawsar Alam Parwary, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Commissionerate, said they expect the low-priced dates to be available in the rural market at Tk聽200 per kg.
鈥楾he importers imported more than enough dates ahead of the Ramadan and we expect the price will be within the reaches of the consumers,鈥� he added.
He also said that the highest valued dates imported in Bangladesh should be available for Tk聽1,200-Tk 1,300 this year.
BFFIA president Serazul Islam said that the price of dates has plunged by nearly 20 per cent in the retail market. The number of dates the importers imported since November will be available even after Ramadan.
However, retail and wholesale traders urged the government to continue strict monitoring, especially in the rooms between the importers and retailers.