Bangladesh had recently approved the export of 1,200 tonnes of hilsa to India for the festive season, with the shipment window fixed between September 16 and October 5
The first consignment of Bangladeshi hilsa fish has reached India from the neighbouring country ahead of Durga Puja. Due to high demand for this much beloved fish in Bengali households during the festive season, Bangladesh has approved the export of 1,200 tonnes of hilsa even amid the ongoing ban on its export.
The first consignment of Bangladeshi hilsa fish has reached India from the neighbouring country ahead of Durga Puja. Due to high demand for this much beloved fish in Bengali households during the festive season, Bangladesh has approved the export of 1,200 tonnes of hilsa even amid the ongoing ban on its export. “Ten trucks of 50 tonnes of hilsa have come in through the Petrapole border on Wednesday (September 17, 2025).
We will dispatch them by 6 p.m. in the evening. They will be available in Kolkata and Howrah markets by Thursday (September 18, 2025) morning,” Fish Importers’ Association Secretary Syed Anwar Maqsood told The Hindu on Wednesday (September 17, 2025).
However, the Fish Importers’ Association has higlighted that due to the limited export window provided by Bangladesh, the importers in India are not able to manage the load and they are not able to import even half of what they are allotted.
Last year, Bangladesh approved the export of 2,420 tonnes of hilsa. However, according to Mr. Maqsood, they could only receive 577 tonnes. In September 2023, while the export of 3,950 tonnes of hilsa was temporarily permitted by the Bangladeshi government, a total of only 587 tonnes could be exported.
“Almost every year, we failed to consume the full quantity of hilsa fish permitted due to the reason that the export permits are time-bound, like the entire quantity has to be exported within 30 to 45 days’ time. Such a time frame is actually insufficient for exporting such a huge quantity.
As such, we may suggest you and also request you to please consider giving hilsa fish export permissions without any time frame,” a letter from the Fish Importers’ Association to Touhid Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh, stated on August 29, 2025.
News Courtesy : Thehindu