The interim government will initially export 11,000 tonnes of hilsa for Bangladeshi expatriates living in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, gave the information at a press conference at the Secretariat on Monday (17 February). The press conference covered the ministry's plans for the coming Ramadan and its progress over the past six months.

The fisheries adviser said the plan was taken in response to requests from Bangladeshis working in various countries who send remittances home, and who spoke out abroad in support of the country's students and people during the anti-discrimination movement.

She said that although hilsa cannot be sent all year round, arrangements could be made to send it for expatriates in August and September, when the catch is highest. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock will recommend to the Ministry of Commerce the export of 11,000 tonnes of hilsa to Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the initial phase.

Farida Akhter said the plan is to put this into effect between August, September and the first week of October this year. After that, sending hilsa to other countries could be considered.

Present at the press conference were the ministry's secretary (routine charge) Md Tofazzel Hossain; additional secretaries Md Imam Uddin Kabir, Amena Begum and Syeda Nawara Jahan; the acting director general of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr Md Abu Sufian; the acting director general of the Department of Fisheries, Dr Md Abdur Rouf; and other senior officials of the ministry.

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