Bangladesh exports 500 tonnes of Hilsha to India
The ban on all fish export except Hilsha was lifted on Sept 23 this year
The Bangladesh government has exported 500 tonnes of Hilsha fish to India as a special gesture on the occasion of Durga Puja, despite a seven-year ban on its
export.
The first shipment, eight trucks carrying 30.560 tonnes of Hilsha, entered India on Monday evening through the Benapole border point.
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Assistant Revenue Officer Alamgir Hossain said after completion of customs and other formalities, eight trucks loaded with Hilsha entered Petrapole in India at 6:30pm on Monday.
"After 7 years, the government has approved exporting Hilsha to West Bengal as a special gesture on the occasion of Durga Puja," Ministry of Commerce Secretary Dr Md Zafar Uddin said.
Mohitul Haque, owner of C&F agent Amy Enterprises said the Hilsha exported from Bangladesh will go to different markets in West Bengal.
The General Secretary of the Hilsha Importers Association in Kolkata said: "Imported Hilsha will arrive in West Bengal by October 10 in a couple of phases through the Benapole-Petrapole border route."
Aquatic Resources Limited of Dhaka exported the Hilsha at $6 per kilogram (equivalent to Tk507 per Kg) to Naj Impex India Pvt of Kolkata.
On August 1, 2012 the government banned the export of Hilsha and other species of fish following a call by local businesses to control fish prices.
The ban on all fish export except Hilsha was lifted on Sept 23 this year.
