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TL;DR
- Bangladesh approves export of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa fish to India ahead of Durga Puja festival, following a special request from India
- Decision made independently by Ministry of Commerce, not forced by Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, says advisor Farida Akhtar
- India sought to import hilsa citing historical annual exports of 5,000 tonnes since 1996, which stopped after 2012 but resumed only during Durga Puja in recent years
- Advisor previously stated hilsa would be exported only after meeting local demand and ensuring affordability, amidst reports of hilsa smuggling attempts at borders
The Bangladesh government has approved the export of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa fish to India, coinciding with the upcoming Durga Puja festival, according to Farida Akhtar, advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. The decision comes in response to a “special request” from India.
Akhtar stated, “The Ministry of Commerce has independently given this (export approval). They have given it in the context of a request.” She further explained that the approval was granted based on India’s special request for the Durga Puja occasion, adding that she could not force the ministry to make such a decision.
The advisor’s comments came during a meeting with journalists at the Secretariat on Sunday, where she responded to their questions. The Ministry of Commerce had granted permission for the export of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa to India on Saturday, two weeks before the start of Durga Puja.
India had sent a letter on September 11, seeking to import hilsa from Bangladesh ahead of the Durga Puja, as it had done in previous years. In the letter, Indian traders mentioned that an average of 5,000 tonnes of hilsa was exported from Bangladesh to India annually since 1996. However, the exports had stopped after 2012 for unknown reasons. Over the past five years, hilsa exports to India were allowed only during the Durga Puja period as a special consideration.
Considering the overall situation, Indian traders had requested the opportunity to import hilsa from Bangladesh. Earlier, on August 11, Akhtar had stated that hilsa would be exported only after meeting the demand of the country’s people, ensuring that the fish remains affordable for them.
In recent days, several news reports have highlighted instances of hilsa being seized during smuggling attempts at various border points of the country.
News Souce: bdnews24
