The Bangladesh interim government has approved the conditional export of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa to India in light of the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. This decision comes as the demand for the ilish fish spikes during the festive season, particularly in West Bengal. It comes despite earlier remarks indicating the government would prioritise local consumers instead of exports.
Exporters who sought permits for the same have been advised to contact the relevant wing of the ministry to get requisite permissions by September 24 noon, a statement of the commerce ministry, according to The Daily Star, an English daily in Bangladesh.
Adviser to the fisheries and livestock ministry, Farida Akhtar, had stated earlier that the export of hilsa to India would not be permitted to ensure sufficient supply in the local markets. However, the ban has ultimately not been imposed as the demand for Bangladeshi hilsa soars in India, particularly in West Bengal, during the Durga Puja celebrations.
Kazi Belayet Hossain, president of the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA), confirmed receiving a letter from the commerce ministry yesterday, instructing BFFEA members to seek export permission, according to The Daily Star's report. He added that despite the ban on hilsa exports, the government typically eases restrictions during Durga Puja as a gesture of goodwill, likely due to ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two countries.
Belayet also cautioned that the export could lead to a price hike in local markets as exporters begin procuring hilsa for export. Last week, the commerce ministry received nearly 50 requests for export permits, the report stated.
According to The Daily Star, India's Fish Importers Association hailed the decision as a "positive development." Its secretary, Syed Anwar Maqsood, said, "We are happy that our efforts with the interim government of Bangladesh to bring hilsa bore fruit."
In the fiscal year 2023-24, Bangladesh exported 664.86 tonnes of hilsa to India, valued at $7.71 million, according to the Department of Fisheries. The previous year saw a higher export volume of 1,376.42 tonnes, worth $13.68 million, out of Bangladesh's total hilsa production of 5,71,342 tonnes, as per the report.
Bangladeshi Hilsa, especially from the Padma River, holds a special place in Bengali cuisine, with dishes like Hilsa and khichdi common to the Durga Puja celebrations. Despite other Hilsa-exporting countries in the region, including Myanmar, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand, and domestic production in states like Gujarat and Maharashtra, Bangladeshi Hilsa remains highly sought after.
