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The owners of edible oil refineries have pressured the government to increase the prices of soybean oil and palm oil. But the government is not agreeing to the amount of rupees per liter demanded by the traders.
However, the government is also willing to increase the prices to some extent. The Ministry of Commerce has examined how much the prices can be increased through the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC). The Ministry of Commerce is now making the final calculation of the price increase per liter.
On Monday (September 22, 2025), a discussion was held at the Secretariat on the overall situation, including the increase in the prices of edible oil, under the chairmanship of Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin.
BTTC Chairman Mainul Khan, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, and members of the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Bonaspati Manufacturers Association were present at the time. After the meeting, neither the trade advisor nor the owners of the edible oil refinery told reporters.
Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said, "The price increase proposed by the factory owners is much higher than the international market. We are reviewing it. The price may increase. However, the calculation is being made on how much taka per liter."
The owners of the edible oil refinery recently submitted a written application to the Ministry of Commerce, stating that the domestic market price should be increased as the international market price has increased. The Ministry of Commerce held a meeting with the BTTC on Sunday to determine what to do. As a continuation of that meeting, a meeting was held with the owners of the refinery and other relevant parties on Monday.
It is learned that the decision to re-fix the price of edible oil was taken from the meeting in the light of the international market price, the BTTC formula, and discussions with traders.
The factory owners have proposed to increase the price of both soybean and palm oil by 10 taka per liter. The reason, the Ministry of Commerce has been informed, is that the price of soybean oil per ton in the international market has reached $1,200.
Source: Online/OFA
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