Bangladesh stops importing Hilsa from India; Dhaka may not export fish to India
Bangladesh has stopped importing Hilsa from India and Myanmar, raising concerns that it may not allow Hilsa exports to India ahead of Durga Puja.
The Bangladesh government has recently decided to halt the import of Hilsa, a highly prized fish native to the Padma River, from both India and Myanmar. This sudden decision, prompted by the cancellation of no-objection certificates for 103 fish importers, has raised concerns among Indian traders about a possible restriction on Hilsa exports to India ahead of the Durga Puja festival.
The Fish Importers' Association in West Bengal reported that more than 580 metric tonnes (MT) of Hilsa were imported from India in the past two months. In a first, India has also begun exporting roe-filled Hilsa from Gujarat to Bangladesh in the last two months. Bangladesh had previously allowed around 1,200 MT of Hilsa to be exported to West Bengal annually since 2019, with the festive season being the primary reason for this permission.
The Hilsa, known as the "Queen of Fish" due to its unique taste, is considered tastier in the Padma River in Bangladesh than its Indian counterpart found in the Hooghly River. The Bangladeshi government imposed a ban on Hilsa export in 2012 but resumed limited exports in 2019. The sudden halt in Hilsa import has left Indian fish traders apprehensive about the possibility of Bangladesh refusing to allow Hilsa exports to India during the upcoming Durga Puja festival.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
