Bangladesh's interim government has allowed hilsa to be exported to India ahead of Durga Puja. On 8 September the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh informed the Fish Importers Association of West Bengal of the permission by email.

This year Bangladesh has allowed 1,200 metric tonnes of hilsa to be exported for Durga Puja, instead of 3,500 metric tonnes, the report says. The Ministry of Commerce has set the price at $12.5 a kg.

The ministry's email says that, as in every year, the government has taken a policy decision to allow 1,200 metric tonnes of hilsa to be exported to India, subject to conditions, for Durga Puja 2025. Interested exporters are invited to apply in hard copy during office hours on 11 September. The government has set the minimum export price at $12.5 a kg.

Last year, before Durga Puja, Bangladesh's Ministry of Commerce first decided to export 3,500 metric tonnes of hilsa to India, but the interim government later cut that and allowed 2,420 metric tonnes. This time the ministry has reduced the amount further, to 1,200 metric tonnes.

Syed Anwar Maksud, secretary of the Fish Importers Association, said, "We had hoped the quantity of hilsa would be a little higher. But hilsa production in Bangladesh has also been much lower, and perhaps that is why less hilsa is coming. Whatever the case, Bengalis in India will be able to taste Padma hilsa before the Puja."

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