Imports of key Ramadan essentials have risen sharply in the past two months as traders accelerated the opening of Letters of Credit.
This rise is aimed at ensuring stable supplies ahead of Ramadan, a period when prices often become volatile.
Bangladesh Bank data showed that LC openings for nine major items increased to 10.86 lakh metric tons in September and October, up from 9.3 lakh metric tons a year earlier.
Several items such as peas, dates, lentils, soybean oil and sugar saw strong growth, while onion, garlic and ginger imports fell sharply.
The government and Bangladesh Bank have been pushing for higher imports to avoid the shortages and price hikes that commonly occur during Ramadan, expected to begin on February 17, 2026.
Traders said that the import environment is more stable this year.
Small and medium businesses, not just large corporates, were able to open LCs as the dollar supply improved.
Banks are now offering importers dollars at around Tk 122. Reserves have also risen to about $31 billion.
Among the nine items reviewed, peas posted the highest rise, jumping 294 per cent to 164,810 tons.
Date imports rose 231 per cent to 10,165 tons, lentils by 87 per cent to 50,355 tons, soybean oil by 36 per cent to 4,94,865 tons, sugar by 11 per cent to 2,92,572 tons and chickpea by 27 per cent to 54,516 tons during the reporting period.
In contrast, imports of onions collapsed by 99 per cent to only 203 tons due to the government’s import restrictions following a strong domestic harvest.
Garlic imports fell by 89 per cent to 4,614 tons and ginger by 22 per cent to 14,767 tons.
Traders said onion supply was adequate until October but tightened from the beginning of November, pushing prices to Tk 100–120 per kilogram.
Prices had spiked by Tk 20–30 per kilogram within two weeks.
On November 9, commerce adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said that the government would allow the import of onions if high prices persisted for the next four to five days.
Market experts warn that despite strong imports in most categories, prices may still rise if stockpiling or manipulation occurs.
They stress that only strict monitoring of millers, wholesalers and retailers can keep the market stable.
Bangladesh Bank officials said that they do not anticipate major supply shortages during Ramadan.
They noted that LC openings for Ramadan-focused items began early this year and that the overall dollar position is healthier than last year.
To support imports, the central bank issued a directive on November 11 instructing banks to minimize cash margins for opening LCs for ten essential commodities.
These include rice, wheat, onions, pulses, edible oil, sugar, chickpeas, peas, spices and dates.
The directive took effect immediately and will remain in force until March 31, 2026.
The central bank also asked banks to prioritize these LCs to maintain steady domestic supply.
If supply from millers remains uninterrupted and the authorities maintain close monitoring, the chances of sudden price spikes during Ramadan will be limited.