he Government of Bangladesh has decided to export 1,200 metric tonnes of hilsa to India ahead of Durga Puja, the largest annual festival of the Hindu community.
Bangladesh’s decision comes as a goodwill gesture to mark the upcoming festive season and reinforce bilateral ties with India. “Bangladesh just decided to export the quintessential fish to India ahead of the festival season, as a mark of enduring Bangladesh-India friendship,” M Riaz Hamidullah, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
As part of the process, Bangladesh’s Commerce Ministry has invited applications from interested exporters, setting September 11 as the deadline. The Government has also fixed the minimum export price at $12.5 per kilogram. Last year, Bangladesh allowed the export of 3,000 tonnes of Hilsa to India during Durga Puja. This year’s allocation, however, has been reduced to less than half of that amount. The decision reflects the high demand for hilsa in West Bengal during Puja season, where the fish is deeply woven into the region’s cultural and culinary traditions.
Often referred to as the “King of Fish” in Bengal, hilsa holds immense economic and symbolic significance in Bangladesh. Due to its popularity and limited supply, the Bangladeshi Government maintains tight control over its export to ensure adequate domestic availability and sustainable harvesting.
The hilsa export will be conducted under specific conditions, including approvals for selected exporters, a fixed quantity cap, and a defined timeframe, officials said.