Hilsa exports from Bangladesh to India have begun through Akhaura land port in Brahmanbaria for the Durga Puja festival. In the first shipment, 7,300 kg of hilsa was sent to Agartala in Tripura on Thursday evening (26 September).

More hilsa will be exported through this port in phases. The fish in the first shipment were exported by two firms, BDS Corporation and Swarnali Traders.

Akhtar Hossain, owner of the port's C&F agent Adnan Enterprise, said: "We are exporting hilsa for the first time. The fish will be sent only after all customs procedures are complete."

Md Faruk, general secretary of the land port fish exporters' association, said fish were exported to India through Akhaura land port for the first time on Thursday. More than seven tonnes went on the first day, and fish will now go every day, he said.

Wahiduzzaman Khan, revenue officer at Akhaura land port customs, said the hilsa was exported after checking the government approval, and that the exports bring in revenue for the government.

The Bangladesh government has approved the export of 2,420 tonnes of hilsa to India, with 49 firms each exporting 50 tonnes. More hilsa is likely to be exported to India through Akhaura land port in phases.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.