Hilsa imports from India to Bangladesh have stopped. In a letter signed by the acting director general of the Department of Fisheries, Dr Md Khaled Konok, 103 no-objection certificates for importing hilsa were cancelled on 22 September, and the import process has been halted since.

According to the department, imports of 1,739.50 tonnes of hilsa from India had been permitted for the current fiscal year, of which 535 tonnes had come in through Benapole land port up to Tuesday. Asawadul Islam, inspector at the Benapole fisheries and quality control office, said imports were stopped on the department's instructions and the supply of Indian hilsa to the Benapole market has also stopped.

The department has not given a specific reason for the sudden decision. People involved in the trade believe it may be meant to stop imported fish being sold to shoppers as Padma hilsa, to close a route for money laundering through under-invoiced imports, and to keep up interest in catching hilsa at home.

Port officials said imports had recently risen because of higher profits. Import documents declared prices of 48 cents to 2 US dollars a kilogram; there are allegations that hilsa imported at up to about Tk 500 a kilogram was sold in markets as Padma hilsa for Tk 2,000 to 3,000. Several sellers were recently fined during market monitoring for selling Indian hilsa at high prices.

Shoppers say the two look almost the same, which causes confusion. Some in the sector also fear that if more Indian hilsa reaches the market, fishermen will lose interest in catching the domestic fish.

Importers, meanwhile, say they face heavy losses. Importer Syed Mohidul Haque Rubai said fish bought for import was being held across the border and would now have to be returned at a lower price, on top of the import costs already spent. Traders are waiting for further instructions on whether imports under the remaining permits will go ahead.

The report was filed by Barta24.com's senior correspondent in Jashore.

Photo: Mamun2a / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Source: Barta24