Benapole(Jashore): On the occasion of upcoming Durga Puja, 12 tons of hilsa have been exported to India in four trucks through Benapole land port after overcoming various obstacles including a writ in the Supreme Court to stop the export of hilsa.
The first shipment of hilsa through Benapole Port entered Petrapole Port in India after customs and port formalities on Thursday (September 26) afternoon.
The exporters of hilsa are 4 exporters including JS Enterprises, Sajjat Enterprises and Swarnali Enterprises of Bangladesh. Importers are RJ International and KBC International of India. Several C&F agents including Bangladesh Logistics were the C&F agents for the clearance of hilsa from the port.
49 exporters of the country have been allowed to export 2 thousand 420 tons of hilsa. The condition has been given that the export should be completed by October 13. The export price of hilsa per kg is 10 US dollars, which is 1180 taka in Bangladeshi taka.
Indians are happy to have Hilsa before Durga Puja. Business people think that the opportunity of hilsa export will play a big role in increasing the friendship, recent and commercial relations between the two countries.
It is known that the taste and smell of silver hilsa is incomparable. It is a popular fish in two Bengals. The Bengalis of the other side keep hilsa in the main list of food for entertaining guests especially during puja. Previously, Hilsa was open in the list of general export products, but the then Awami League government stopped the export of Hilsa outside the country in 2012, showing production crisis. However, since 2019, the Sheikh Hasina government has given the opportunity to export hilsa only during Durga Puja under special consideration.
In 2024, after the Awami League government left in the revolution of the students and the people, the interim government came in charge of running the country. Meanwhile, Indian businessmen requested to import hilsa for Durga Puja. However, the present government said that the hilsa will be exported abroad after meeting the needs of the country to control the market. But after a month and a half after withdrawing from such a decision, they allowed the export of hilsa to India. A Supreme Court lawyer wrote a writ in the High Court to stop the export. However, the export of hilsa has started overcoming all obstacles.
Last year, hilsa export permit was 3 thousand 900 metric tons. Only 663 MT was exported. Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said that the decision to export hilsa to India was made for greater interest this year.
According to BBC data, hilsa is about 12 percent of Bangladesh's total fish production. It contributes about 1 percent to the country's GDP. Bangladeshi fishermen catch 600,000 tons of hilsa annually.
According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), 476 tonnes of hilsa were exported to India in the fiscal year 2019-20. In the following fiscal year 2020-21, 1 thousand 699 tons of hilsa were exported. On the other hand, 1 thousand 230 tons of hilsa were exported in the fiscal year 2021-22 and 1 thousand 391 tons in the fiscal year 2022-23. In the last financial year 2023-24, 802 tonnes of hilsa were exported to India. In the last 5 years, only 530 thousand metric tons of hilsa were exported to India.
Truck drivers transporting hilsa said that they are going to Petrapol port in India with hilsa from Chandpur and Barishal.
Ramesh Biswas, an Indian citizen, said that he was waiting to entertain guests in the puja with hilsa from Bangladesh. This time I thought Hilsa would not come. But in the end Bangladesh government is giving hilsa. We are happy that the Bangladeshi hilsa came before the puja. Thanks to the government.
Office Secretary of Benapole C&F Agent Association, Mostafijoha Salim said, there is a crisis of hilsa in the country. Hilsa is going to India. Maybe the government is exporting hilsa to India considering the larger interest. The business circles believe that the export of hilsa will play a major role in increasing trade and friendship between the two countries.
Fishery Quarantine Officer of Benapole Land Port Mahabur Rahman said that after the customs, port and fish office formalities, 12 metric tons of hilsa have been exported to India in the first 4 shipments. The export price of hilsa per kg is 10 dollars.