Only 1108 tons of hilsa exported to India
115 companies were approved to export over 4600 tons of hilsa to India by 3 October
Less than one-quarter of the government-approved amount of hilsa has been exported to India this year ahead of Durga Puja, said officials.
The government had approved 115 companies to export over 4600 tons-40 tonnes each- of hilsa to the neighbouring country, temporarily lifting a ban on exporting the fish.
By the end of Sunday, the last day of the time given for approved shipments, only 1108 tons of hilsa had been exported there by 51 companies, said Benapole Fisheries Inspection and Quality Control Officer Mahbubur Rahman.
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The approved duration for the export ended yesterday with 150 tons of hilsha crossing the border on the day, he said.
The export value of all hilsa sold to India during the approved timeframe, stands at $1.1122 crore, added Mahbubur.
Exporters are blaming the low volume of exports on insufficient fishing and better hilsa prices in the domestic market.
Exporter Nurul Amin Biswas said very little hilsa is being caught in the sea. Also, many have stopped exporting the fish to India due to the low prices it has been fetching as an export to our neighbouring country.
The government had imposed a ban on exporting hilsa since 2012 due to a shortage of production in the country.
However, since 2019, the government has been temporarily lifting the ban for India every year ahead of Durga Puja, the biggest Hindu religious festival in West Bengal and Bangladesh, honouring friendship and amity.
