NN Online
A total of 532 metric tons of hilsa fish was exported to India through the Benapole land port during the fixed period marking the Durga Puja. It is just 19.96 percent of the amount that the government approved to export to the neighboring country.
Traders said that hilsa fish crisis going up in Bangladesh and due to price surged, hilsa could not be exported as per the demand. However, they requested to extend the time for export.
Meanwhile, from Saturday (October 12) midnight to November 3, hilsa catching, stocking or storage, and marketing are all prohibited in the sea and river for 22 days.This year, hilsa from 700 grams to one kilogram weight was exported at an average of 10 US dollars per kilogram, which is equivalent to 1 thousand 180 taka in the country. However, hilsa is being sold at a much higher price in the country’s market.
On the occasion of Durga Puja, on the occasion of Durga Puja, the Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh government gave permission to 49 exporters to export 2 thousand 420 tons of hilsa. Hilsa Export started from that day. Saturday (October 12) was the last day.
Earlier, hilsa was on the list of common export products, but the then-Awami League government stopped the export of hilsa in 2012, citing a production shortage. However, since 2019, the opportunity to export hilsa only during Durga Puja is given as a special consideration.
After the fall of the Awami League government in the July-August student uprising, the interim government came to run the country. Meanwhile, Indian businessmen send requests for Durga Puja hilsa. However, the fisheries and livestock adviser of the government said that after meeting the needs of the country, hilsa will be exported abroad.
However, in the end, the government did not stick to such a decision. After a month and a half, the interim government allowed the export of hilsa to India in the ‘larger interest’. Hilsa exports to India started on September 26.
Last year, the Hilsa export permit was 3 thousand 900 tons. Only 663 tons were exported. This year, 2 thousand 420 tons of hilsa were allowed to be exported to India. However, traders could not send the allowed amount of hilsa.
According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), 476 tons of hilsa were exported to India in the fiscal year 2019-20. In fiscal year 2020-21, 1 thousand 699 tons of hilsa were exported. On the other hand, 1 thousand 230 tons of hilsa were exported in the fiscal year 2021-22 and 1 thousand 391 tons in the fiscal year 2022-23. In the last financial year 2023-24, 802 metric tons of Hilsa were exported to India. According to that, only 530 thousand tons of hilsa are exported to India in 5 years.
Rezaul Karim of Satta Fish of Benapole, a hilsa exporter, said that hilsa could not be exported as per demand due to the crisis and high prices in the country. If time increases, some more exports may be possible.
Benapole Land Port Fishery Inspection and Quality Control Center Inspector Asawadul Islam said that hilsa was being exported to India through Benapole Port during the Puja holidays. As much as 36 tons of hilsa can be exported to India on the last day today. A total of 532 tons of hilsa went to India till the last day of hilsa export on Sunday.