Hilsa Diplomacy: First Consignment Arrives In Bengal From Bangladesh Ahead Of Durga Puja

With Durga Puja just days away, Bengal received a ‘gift’ from Bangladesh as the first consignment of 45 metric tonnes of Hilsa fish arrived from the neighbouring country on Thursday, PTI reported. The Sheikh Hasina-led Bangladesh government has permitted traders to sell nearly 4,000 metric tonnes of Hilsha to India.

Hilsa from the Padma river in Bangladesh is a much sought-after fish in Bengal and among fish lovers. Often called the “Queen of Fish”, Hilsa or Ilish is the most popular fish among Bengalis.

Nine trucks carrying the fish entered the state through the Petrapole border in North 24 Parganas district. The Chief Controller of Imports and Exports of Dhaka has issued licenses to 79 exporters for supplying 50 metric tonnes of Hilsa each, reported news agency PTI.

Speaking to PTI, Customs clearing agent Firoj Mandal said, “Altogether 40-45 metric tonnes of Hilsa reached from Bangladesh today. The fish will be sent to various markets across the state such as Kolkata, Siliguri and Murshidabad.”

Mandal said the Hilsa will hit the markets in a week’s time. He added, “This is the first consignment. Altogether 3,950 metric tonnes of Hilsa will be exported by Bangladesh.”

While most of the Hilsa arriving from Bangladesh will be distributed among markets in Bengal, traders said sufficient quantities would also sold  be available in Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai.

Officials said all exports must be completed by the deadline of October 30 as fishing for Hilsa would be halted from October 12 to allow them to breed, PTI reported.

A wholesale dealer of marine products told PTI, “Padma Hilsa gets snapped up in the market regardless of the price. This export by Bangladesh ahead of the pujas will make markets buoyant despite the large quantities being offered as they will pull up prices and demand, in any case, goes up this season.”

Hilsa from Bangladesh’s Padma and Meghna rivers and from Chandpur, the intersection of the two rivers, has long been hailed by Hilsa connoisseurs as among the tastiest of fishes.

In 2012, Bangladesh had banned the export of the fish. However, upon the request of CM Mamata Banerjee, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took an initiative a few years back that allowed the export of Hilsa ahead of the Durga Puja season.

The Indian Express quoted the Secretary of Fish Importers’ Association, Syed Anwar Maqsood, as saying, “Though permission was given to export 2,900 MT Hilsa in September last year, only 1,300 MT could be shipped due to the lack of time. We had requested to give at least 60 days instead of the usual 20-30 days since such a large quantity cannot be exported in such a short span. If they are permitting 5,000 MT that we used to export in an entire season before the ban, then Bangladesh should actually lift the ban.”