The first consignment of Hilsa fish has reached India from Bangladesh for Durga Puja.
Ever since there has been a coup in Bangladesh. Since then, no special good relations have been seen between India and Bangladesh. On the other hand, due to Bangladesh’s growing close close to Pakistan and China, tension has increased due to India’s borders. Now the biggest question is whether the relationship between the two countries will ever be good? This question is also important because 8 trucks of Hilsa fish have come to India from Bangladesh. The special thing is that this time the supply that has been approved this time is the lowest after 2019. This fish is considered quite sacred on the occasion of Durga Puja. In such a situation, will Hilsa help in bringing India and Bangladesh closer to each other. Let’s try to understand this. That too when India has imposed many restrictions on Bangladeshi import.
First batch of Hilsa India
The first consignment of Hilsa fish before the Durga Puja festival has reached the India-Bangladesh border from the neighboring country Bangladesh. About 32 tonnes of fish have been sent to India in eight trucks. Bangladesh had recently approved the export of 1,200 tons of Hilsa fish to India in view of festivals. Its supply is to be held from 16 September to 5 October. Each truck has about four tons of fish loaded with Padma River. Syed Anwar Maqsood, secretary of the Fish Emaric Association, said that this consignment will reach the wholesale markets of Kolkata by Wednesday night.
He said that the price of one kilo Padma Hilsa will be about Rs 1,800 for customers. Maqsood said, now almost every day fishes from Bangladesh will come to Kolkata markets, said that the Bangladesh government had already made it clear that the supply of this consignment of fish should be under its export policy 202427, in which the minimum export price has been fixed at US $ 12.5 per kg. The validity of this approval is from 16 September to 5 October.
Why will Hilsa be necessary?
Now the biggest question is whether the import of Hilsa fish will bring both countries closer once again. This question is also important because Bengal has a lot of importance on the occasion of Durga Puja of Hilsa fish coming from Bangladesh. Hilsa fish is considered quite sacred on this occasion. Also eaten. Hilsa is often called “Queen of Fishes” for its taste and is considered more tasty than the Indian Hilsa found in the Hooghly River of Bangladeshi Hilsa, West Bengal, found in the Padma River. Outside West Bengal, Bangladeshi Hilsa also has a lot of demand in Assam and Tripura.
The lowest supply in 6 years
The special thing is that this time the quantity which has been decide has been seen after the year 2019. If we look at the data, in 2019, the Bangladesh government allowed 500 metric tonnes of exports. In 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, about 1850 MT, 4600 MT, 2900 MT and 3950 MT were allowed to export. In August 2024, there was a huge political upheaval in Bangladesh. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to step down on 5 August and fled to India. An interim government led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus took power. Since then, relations between the two countries have come to an end. In 2024, the export number decreased to 2,420 MT.
Supply of fish increased from Gujarat
Maqsud said that but so much quantity of Hilsa will not reach West Bengal because the time given for business is very less. The entire consignment of 1,200 tonnes will have to be sent before October 5. This happens every year. Traders reported that in 2024, although Bangladesh had allowed 2,420 metric tonnes of fish to export, due to lack of time, only 577 MT of fish finally reached West Bengal.
Fish traders said that due to stressful relations between the two neighboring countries, there was uncertainty about the import of Hilsa from Bangladesh this year, so a record quantity of fish was purchased from Gujarat this year. Maqsood said that every year, fish traders from Howrah and Kolkata get about 500-700 MT of Hilsa from Gujarat. But this year more than 4,000 metric tonnes of fish have already arrived from Gujarat. Hilsa’s grip in West Bengal has been less due to many reasons in the last few years. However, this year an increase in production has been recorded due to good monsoon rains.