Saarc Nations - September 9, 2025

Bangladesh to Export 1,200 Tonnes of Hilsa to India Ahead of Durga Puja

team maverick September 9, 2025

0 3 min read

Dhaka, Sept 2025: Bangladesh has decided to allow the export of 1,200 tonnes of Hilsa fish, locally known as Ilish, to India ahead of Durga Puja celebrations.

In a notification issued late Monday night, the Ministry of Commerce said, “The government has taken a policy decision to allow conditional export of 1,200 metric tonnes of Hilsa to India on the occasion of Durga Puja in the current year 2025.” Exporters interested in participating must submit hard copy applications by 5:00 p.m. on September 11, 2025, during office hours.

The notification outlined mandatory documents for submission, including an updated trade license, Export Registration Certificate (ERC), income tax and VAT certificates, sales contract, and a license from the Department of Fisheries. The minimum export price has been fixed at US$ 12.50 per kg. Exporters who applied before the notification’s release are also required to reapply.

Hilsa, regarded as a delicacy across Bengal, is in high demand during Durga Puja, when the fish becomes a cultural and culinary highlight. India, particularly West Bengal, has traditionally relied on imports from Bangladesh to meet festive demand.

Last year, on September 27, 2024, the first consignment of Bangladeshi Padma Hilsa—weighing around 45–50 tonnes—reached West Bengal through the Petrapole-Benapole border. In total, the interim government exported 2,420 tonnes of Hilsa to India in 2024. The consignment was welcomed as a much-anticipated import ahead of the festival.

Currently, the wholesale price of Hilsa in Kolkata’s Howrah fish market ranges between Rs 1,400 and Rs 1,600 per kg. After crossing the border, the fish is distributed from Howrah Bazar to retail markets across Kolkata and adjoining districts.

The fresh announcement is expected to once again delight fish lovers on both sides of the border during the upcoming Puja season.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)