TCB has been selling onion at Tk 45 per kg but says it is not getting good response in recent days.
Many TCB onion trucks were seen sitting idly in the city. Only a few days ago, police had to be deployed to control the buyers.
Sources said about 200 to 300 kgs of onion remain unsold per truck regularly.
The price of local onion increased by 542.86 percent while that of imported one by 572.73 percent in November compared to the corresponding period of the last year.
As per the market analysis, the price hike, which stemmed from the ban India slapped on the export of the bulb on September 29, is much higher than the TCB estimation.
Many residents of Khulna told UNB that they are not purchasing imported onion because the local variety is already available in the market at Tk 100 per kg.
Kamrul Islam who came from Dolhola intersection to purchase onion said people are losing interest in buying the kitchen item from TCB. Only weeks ago, people had to queue for hours to purchase one kg onion.
Sadhon Biswas came from Raipara Cross to buy onion. “I still come here to purchase onion but I don’t have much interest,” he said.
Onion seller Zahid Hossain at Moilapota intersection said he is worried about his unsold stock.
Official sources said TCB onion sale began in the metropolitan area about a month ago. Each person was entitled to buy one kilogram of onion at the rate of Tk 45 per kg. Overwhelming demand and a supply crunch forced TCB to stop the sale after three days.
TCB later increased sale points and quantity of onion. Its officials say dealers used to sell two to three tonnes of onions daily.
Rabiul Morshed, Chief of Khulna TCB regional office, said, “The market is not as crowded as it used to be. The dealers are having a hard time selling onions unlike recent weeks.”