In a surprising turn of events, Bangladesh’s interim government has announced plans to export 3,000 tonnes of hilsa fish to India in time for the Durga Puja festival, which will take place from October 9 to 13. This decision marks a reversal of their earlier stance, which saw a ban on hilsa exports imposed earlier this month under the leadership of Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The initial ban, aimed at prioritizing domestic demand, halted a long-standing tradition of Bangladesh sending hilsa to India as a “goodwill gesture.” The commerce ministry statement clarified that, “Against the backdrop of appeals by the exporters, approval has been given to export 3,000 tonnes of hilsa fish (to India), fulfilling the specific conditions on the occasion of the upcoming Durga Puja.” Applicants seeking export permission have been directed to contact the relevant wing of the ministry.
This reversal sheds light on the significance of the hilsa fish export during Durga Puja. The previous Awami League government, led by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, had maintained a tradition of allowing hilsa exports to India between September and October each year as a goodwill gesture, a practice nurtured for years. This year, Bangladesh had initially authorized 79 companies to export a total of 4,000 tonnes to India, coinciding with Durga Puja, the largest religious festival for Hindu Bengalis.
Bangladesh, being the world’s largest hilsa producer, typically restricts exports due to high domestic demand. However, during the Durga Puja festival, it usually relaxes the ban on hilsa exports, recognizing its popularity as a cherished delicacy among Bengalis.
Earlier this month, India’s Fish Importers Association had appealed to Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain to allow hilsa exports during Durga Puja amidst uncertainty surrounding shipments this year. In a letter dated September 9, the Association secretary Syed Anwar Maqsood highlighted that while Bangladesh had imposed a ban on hilsa exports in 2012, it had been allowing limited exports from the first week of September until the end of Durga Puja as a goodwill gesture for the past five years. This latest development, therefore, marks a return to this tradition, ensuring a crucial supply of hilsa for the upcoming festival in India.
