Staff Reporter :
As Durga Puja 2025 approaches, uncertainty surrounds whether Bangladesh will maintain its cherished tradition of exporting Hilsa from the Padma River to India. In anticipation of the festival, the Fish Importers Association of West Bengal has formally requested the interim government of Bangladesh to permit Hilsa exports this year.
On Tuesday, the association sent an official letter to Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain seeking authorisation to import Hilsa in time for the religious celebrations. The traders expressed their gratitude for the previous year’s approval of a 2,420 metric ton export quota, although only a fraction of that quantity reached India.
“Thanks to your kind intervention last year, permission was granted to export 2,420 metric tons of Hilsa to India. Fish enthusiasts in West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura highly value Padma’s Hilsa during Durga Puja,” the letter stated.
However, the traders also conveyed frustration over the persistent shortfall between approved quotas and actual exports. In 2024, only 577 metric tons were exported, while in 2023, 587 metric tons were shipped out of an approved 3,950 metric tons. Similar trends have been observed in preceding years.
The letter attributed the issue primarily to the restricted export window. “The narrow timeframe of 30 to 45 days makes it practically impossible to fulfil the full shipment. We respectfully request that future exports be permitted without stringent time constraints,” wrote Syed Anwar Maqsud, secretary of the association.
The appeal was also marked by a tone of diplomacy and goodwill, congratulating the interim government on completing its first year and expressing hope that Hilsa exports would resume to reinforce cultural and trade relations between the neighbouring countries.
While it remains uncertain whether the request will be approved, it is evident that for millions of Bengalis on both sides of the border, Padma’s Hilsa is far more than a fish-it is a festive tradition, a culinary heritage, and a symbol of enduring cross-border bonds.
