Staff Reporter :
The Interim Government’s Fisheries and Livestock Advisor, Farida Akhter, has announced that priority will be given to the people of Bangladesh, including the Hindu community, to ensure they can enjoy hilsa fish during this year’s Durga Puja.
Akhter emphasised that the domestic demand for the popular and valuable fish will take precedence over exports to India.
In an interview with Indian news outlet News-18 on Friday, September 13, Akhter said, “We apologise, but we will not be able to send any hilsa to India. It’s an expensive fish, and we have observed that our own people struggle to afford it.
Most of it is exported to India, and whatever remains is sold at high prices. We, too, celebrate Durga Puja, and our people deserve to enjoy it as well.”
This marks a shift from previous years, where former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would send 4,000 tons of hilsa to India as a goodwill gesture during Durga Puja. Akhter criticized this initiative, stating, “There was no need to send fish to India.
It was wrong to prioritize fish exports under the guise of maintaining a good relationship with India. She neglected the needs of the Bangladeshi people.”
The Fisheries Advisor further pointed out that Bangladesh should not create an issue over hilsa with India.
“If India truly values its relationship with Bangladesh, it should focus on resolving more pressing issues, such as the distribution of water from the Teesta River,” she said.
The decision reflects a growing sentiment in Bangladesh that domestic needs should come before international diplomatic gestures, especially when it concerns a cultural and culinary staple like hilsa during important festivals like Durga Puja.
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