TDS Desk:

Bangladesh has been exporting Hilsa fish to India for the past few years on the occasion of Durga Puja. But there is still uncertainty about the export of Hilsa fish to India this year.

In such a situation, the West Bengal fish traders’ association has written to the interim government of Bangladesh asking for Padma’s silver Hilsa. The ‘Fish Importers Association’ applied to the Bangladesh interim government’s foreign affairs advisor Touhid Hossain for Hilsa.

Last year, Hilsa went to India during the Durga Puja season. Expressing gratitude to the foreign affairs advisor in this regard, the letter reads, “It is with utmost generosity and respect that permission was given to export 2420 metric tons of Hilsa fish to India last year due to your intervention. Padma’s Hilsa is a delicious dish for fish lovers in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.”

It was further written, “As the countdown to Durga Puja-2025 has begun, we request you to allow the export of Hilsa fish for the upcoming Durga Puja. It is to be noted that this year Durga Puja falls in September 2025.”

They also wrote, “Sir, out of the 2,420 metric tons of Hilsa fish provided by your office last year, only 577 metric tons of Hilsa fish could be exported. The previous year, in 2023, only 587 metric tons out of 3,950 metric tons were exported. In 2022, 1,300 metric tons out of 2,900 metric tons and in 2021, 1,200 metric tons out of 4,600 metric tons of Hilsa fish were exported.”

Naturally, the ‘Fish Importers Association’ of West Bengal also expressed some regret in the letter due to the fact that the full quantity of approved Hilsa fish did not arrive.

The letter, signed by Syed Anwar Maqsud, secretary of the Fish Importers Association, also stated, “Almost every year we fail to receive the full quantity of Hilsa fish allowed, because the export permits are limited to a specific period. For example, the entire quantity has to be exported within 30 to 45 days. This period is actually not enough for such a huge amount of exports. Therefore, we request you to please consider allowing the export of Hilsa fish without any time limit.”

Finally, the Fish Importers Association congratulated the interim government for successfully completing one year. The fish trade organization expressed its hope of establishing stronger bilateral relations with India during the tenure of the current government.