Although 4,600 tonnes of hilsa were to be exported to India this year, a total of only 1,227.5 tonnes went in two phases. That leaves 3,372.5 tonnes of hilsa that could not be exported.

According to sources concerned, the Ministry of Commerce gave 115 firms permission to export 40 tonnes each, 4,600 tonnes in all, before Durga Puja. Exports were first allowed between 22 September and 10 October. But because catching, transporting, selling and marketing hilsa was banned from 4 October to 25 October, only 1,137 tonnes of hilsa had been exported to India through Benapole port by midnight on 3 October.

On 26 October the Ministry of Commerce issued a notification extending the export period. After that, only 90.5 tonnes of hilsa could be exported between 28 October and 4 November.

Aswadul Islam, inspector at the Benapole Fish Inspection and Quality Control Office, said 90.5 tonnes of hilsa were exported to India through Benapole port in the second phase, from 28 October to Thursday (4 November). In the first phase 1,137 tonnes had gone. By the government's count, 3,372.5 tonnes of hilsa could not be exported, he said.

Nurul Amin Biswas, owner of the hilsa exporter Biswas Traders, said 4,600 tonnes of hilsa were to be exported to India this time. But many exporters could not ship because of a shortage of hilsa in the market and an abnormal rise in its price. The situation arose because too much permission was given this year, he said.

The government stopped hilsa exports in 2012 because of a production shortfall at home. Since 2019 it has allowed hilsa exports to India every year before Durga Puja.

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