Bangladesh will not be able to export hilsa to India during Durga Puja

Bangladesh will not be able to export hilsa (ilish) fish to India during the upcoming Durga Puja festival as the country aims to prioritise local consumption over international trade. Farida Akhter, an advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, conveyed this during a statement to the media, stressing the need to ensure sufficient supply for the domestic market. Bangladesh, which produces 70-80% of the world’s hilsa, faces the challenge of sustaining this national treasure.

“We cannot allow ilish to be exported while our own people cannot buy it. This year, I have instructed the Ministry of Commerce to prevent any export of ilish to India during Durga Puja,” Akhter was quoted as saying last week by the Dhaka Tribune. “Protecting ilish breeding areas and sanctuaries is crucial. Without proper management, production will be affected,” he warned, stressing the importance of sustainable practices.

Akhter also said stricter measures will be implemented to curb illegal smuggling of hilsa, particularly across the border with India.

It should be noted that there is no official order banning the export of hilsa fish as of yet. According to some reports, the interim government of Bangladesh may take this decision to stop exports due to the anti-Indian sentiment prevailing in the country while its ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is still in India after being forced to flee Dhaka.

Bangladeshi hilsa, especially from the Padma River, holds a special place in Bengali cuisine, and dishes like hilsa and khichdi are common at Durga Puja celebrations. Despite the fact that there are other hilsa exporting countries in the region, such as Myanmar, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand, and domestic production in states like Gujarat and Maharashtra, Bangladeshi hilsa remains in high demand.

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‘Hilsa Diplomacy’

This decision marks a departure from Bangladesh’s tradition of exporting large quantities of Padma Hilsa to India, particularly West Bengal, during the festive season. Under Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh sent Hilsa to India between August and October as a goodwill gesture.

However, this is not the first time that India has not received Hilsa from Bangladesh. The neighbouring country had imposed a ban on Hilsa exports in July 2012 due to high domestic demand and concerns over net fishing of smaller-sized fish. The move had prompted the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government to urge the Centre to negotiate with Bangladesh on resuming supplies, according to The Telegraph. Mamata had also made a direct request to the then Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a one-on-one meeting in February 2015. The ban was temporarily lifted in September 2020, allowing Hilsa exports to India ahead of Durga Puja.

Neighbourly relations along with shared culture and love for the Hilsa also give rise to the term ‘Hilsa diplomacy’.

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Last year, the first consignment of Padma Hilsa arrived in Bengal on September 21 via the Petrapole land port. Nine truckloads of a total of 45 tonnes of Hilsa were sent from Barishal as part of a special gesture by the Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce, which enabled 79 exporters to send 3,950 tonnes of Hilsa to India during Durga Puja, The Telegraph reported.