The Commerce Ministry has permitted hilsa exports at India's special request for Durga Puja, according to Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

She said this in reply to journalists' questions at a meeting of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the Secretariat on Sunday, 22 September.

The adviser said: "The Commerce Ministry gave it (the export approval) independently. They gave it in response to a request. There was a special request on the occasion of Durga Puja in India, and they acted accordingly. I cannot force them on that."

On Saturday, the Commerce Ministry approved the export of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa to India for the upcoming Durga Puja.

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