Hilsa prices are high in the country. Amid this, traders in India have written asking for hilsa from Bangladesh for Durga Puja, and the request is now under review at the Ministry of Commerce.

On 29 July the "Fish Importers Association" of West Bengal wrote to Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain seeking hilsa. It wants to import hilsa for Durga Puja in September. The letter has been sent to the Ministry of Commerce.

Sources at the commerce ministry said officials are reviewing whether to allow hilsa exports. No one could be reached for comment on the matter.

In their letter, the West Bengal importers also thanked the interim government for allowing the export of 2,420 tonnes of hilsa last year. Last year, amid the student-people's uprising, Sheikh Hasina fled to India, and senior Awami League leaders and activists also took shelter there, creating a strain in Bangladesh's relations with India. Even in that situation, the Fish Importers Association sought hilsa last year. The government formed after the uprising was hesitant at first, but in the end allowed the export of 2,500 metric tonnes of hilsa, the report says.

At that time the interim government faced considerable criticism because the export price of hilsa was comparatively lower than the market price.

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