The government has urged fruit importers to open letters of credit quickly and raise shipments as prices of imported fruits climb, while a decision on duties and taxes on dates is expected this week.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir also ordered action against traders charging excessive prices for Malta after questioning how it was selling for as much as Tk520 a kilogram despite prevailing import costs, duties and other expenses.
He made the remarks at a meeting with fruit traders and government agencies at the commerce ministry on Saturday.
Importers blamed the price surge largely on a supply shortage, saying only 12 to 29 containers of Malta had arrived in some weeks against normal demand of about 15 containers a day.
They said high duties, freight costs, shipping and port complications and losses on earlier consignments had discouraged imports.
Muktadir said the government would review the duty structure on Malta and asked traders to increase supplies over the next few weeks, including from alternative markets.
He also urged importers to begin preparations for date imports, saying the government would announce its decision on related duties and taxes this week.
Authorities are also reviewing the customs assessment value of imported dates.
The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission is expected to meet importers within days to examine international source prices for different grades of dates and propose a more realistic indicative value to the National Board of Revenue.
Muktadir said customs assessments should protect businesses from unreasonable valuations while preventing importers from understating prices to evade revenue.
Importers said longer shipping times and port complications meant dates were taking more time to reach Bangladesh, making an early duty decision important.
Fruit traders said they would seek to increase imports of Malta and other foreign fruits, while the government said it would review concerns over duties, customs valuation and import procedures.
