Bangladesh is deficit in edible oils and fats since pre-liberation period and was dependent on imported oils and fats since then. Traditionally, mustard oil in virgin form was the most consumed edible oil since ancient time and still mustard seed is the major oil seed crop produced in the country. Later soyabean oil was introduced in early ’60s and was the dominating cooking oil of the country till 2002.

In Bangladesh, palm oil was introduced in early ’70s after liberation to meet the growing demand. As there was no facility for refining of crude palm oil in Bangladesh, only refined palm olein, locally known as palm oil, was used to be imported which continued till early ’90s. During this period, refined olein generally, was being imported mainly from Singapore by private importers and was sold directly in the market. On the other hand, refined olein received from international aid agencies used to be distributed through govt. rationing system. Because of its quality as well as price competitiveness compared to other cooking oils, it earned consumer’s confidence quickly as good cooking oil. But in mid ’80s, because of anti-palm oil campaign and prevailing market situation, negative perception about palm oil developed among the consumers of the country and import vis-à-vis consumption of palm oil started to decline.

A picture of a mustard seed field

However, palm oil in crude form started to arrive again during early ’90s, when local edible oil industries acquired the technical knowledge of palm oil refining and being equipped with most modern machineries, these industries started to produce world class refined palm olein, which received a good response from the market. With the introduction of double-fractionated palm olein in the later part of ’90s, which is locally known as super olein, the acceptance of palm olein in the country rapidly increased and in the year 2003, palm olein managed to occupy the leading position among major 3-edible oils, namely refined soyabean oil, refined olein and canola/mustard oil, consumed in the country which is still continuing.

In Bangladesh, apart from consumption of about 700,000 – 750,000 tonnes of palm olein and super olein as cooking oil annually, about 250,000 tonnes of refined olein is being consumed by the local food processing industries namely, vanaspati, biscuit, bread, confectionery and bakery products, fried snack food such as potato chips, chanachur & dal bhaza (fried pulses), instant noodles, condensed milk, ice cream, sweet meats etc. Among these industries, vanaspati/shortening industry is the major consumer of refined olein, which consumes on an average about 150,000 tonnes annually to produce trans fat free vanaspati. It is worthy to mention here that the intake of trans-fatty acid has been identified as one of the major causes of heart disease.