Aiming to rein in the runaway price of potatoes, the government has approved the import of 34,000 metric tonnes of potatoes through the Hili land port from India.

The 49 traders will be able to start importing the potatoes from Saturday or Sunday, said Yusuf Ali, deputy assistant officer of the plant contamination control centre at Hili land port, yesterday.

Shahidul Islam, one of the traders, said potatoes are being sold for Tk 40-45 per kg at the retail level, which is abnormally high for this time of the year. The government decision might help the government to gain some control over the price ahead of Ramadan, he said.