The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were

1. The question asks about the staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century (around 1750s). 2. During this period, Bengal was a major hub for the Company's trade. 3. Option (A): Raw cotton became a major export later, especially in the 19th century. Opium trade was significant, but oil-seeds were not a primary staple export for the Company at this scale. 4. Option (B): Sugar and salt were traded, but zinc and lead were not major export items from Bengal for the Company. 5. Option (C): Copper, silver, and gold were more often imported by India (as bullion) or traded internally. While spices were historically important, the focus in Bengal was different. Tea cultivation and export became significant much later, in the 19th century. 6. Option (D) accurately reflects the major exports. Bengal was renowned for its fine cotton textiles (muslins) and raw silk, which were in high demand in Europe. Saltpetre (potassium nitrate), crucial for gunpowder production, was a key strategic export. Opium, cultivated in nearby regions and traded through Calcutta, was becoming increasingly important for the Company's trade with China. These four (Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium) were indeed the staple commodities.