Dhaka: The government has issued a public notice withdrawing the ban on import of salt for the next two months.

Referring to the Commerce Ministry's public notice, Bangladesh Bank on Sunday issued an order for the scheduled banks to allow opening of letters of credit (LCs) to facilitate the import of salt by traders, reports UNB.

The Commerce Ministry issued the Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO), dated 28 August, to allow only the import of a total of 150,000 metric tons of crude and bolder salt by a maximum 200 importers.

Half of the total quantity will be used for general consumers and half for industrial purpose.

The government lifted the ban against the backdrop of escalating price of salt in the local market. The salt is now being sold at Tk 40-45 in retail shops which was selling at Tk 25 just two months ago.

The price may go up further ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Azha as use of salt will substantially go up for its use in preserving cowhides.

The Commerce Ministry, however, tagged 11 conditions for the traders to allow their import of bulk salt.

A committee, formed by the office of the chief controller of import and export, will determine how much a miller will be able to import.

The committee will distribute quota equally among the maximum 200 hundred of millers. In case of more aspirants, the committee will make its decision.