Bangladesh to export 1,475 tonnes of hilsa to India for Durga Puja
The government has made a decision to send 1,475 tonnes of hilsa fish to India as a gesture of goodwill on the occasion of Durga Puja, an total annual Hindu festival, and has already given the go-ahead to nine exporters to start shipments from another week.
The commerce ministry shared the information via a circular issued on September 10.
"It's a Durga Puja surprise for the people of India," said Nargis Murshida, deputy secretary (export-2) of the commerce ministry.
"This past year, we allowed the export of 500 tonnes of hilsa fish," she added.
Hilsa, the national fish of Bangladesh, is principally exported from the Pathorghata, Bhola, Barishal, Kalapara districts of Barishal division and from Chandpur under Chattogram division.
Exporters from different parts of the country choose the fish from these areas before transport them abroad.
Around 200 people have applied for permission to export hilsa this season but simply nine got the chance, stated Nirab Hossain Tutul, president of the Barishal Matso Arotdar Samity, a local committee of seafood wholesalers.
Hilsa fish of 800 to 1 1,200 grams in proportions will be exported this year, said Tutul, who's the only local exporter to be included in the set of nine exporters.
Nevertheless, the per kilogram cost of the fish is certainly but to be fixed.
Export of these fishes to India's West Bengal through Benapole interface might continue until October 10, in line with the traders and exporters at Barishal.
At present, various preparations are ongoing. This year, the exporters have to operate under quarantine orders from the authorities concerned to ensure that the fishes happen to be safe and don't spread Covid-19.
Meanwhile, the cost of hilsa at native markets increased when the media of the brand new export order premiered, Tutul said. In native markets, each kilogramme of hilsa seafood is now selling at Tk 850 to Tk 900 although it was Tk 750 a week ago, he added.
Over 80 per cent of the hilsa seafood which is exported to India this year should come from the Barishal belt, according to Ajit Kumar Das Manu, an area hilsa trader.
"Last year, 350 tonnes out of the 500 tonnes shipped to India originated from Barishal," Manu said.
Hilsa development has increased found in Barishal recently thanks to strict supervision and widespread promotions from the government to protect and invite the fishes to grow greater, said Bimol Chandra Das, district fisheries officer (hilsa).
