Durga Puja gift: Bangladesh interim government to export 3,000 tonnes of hilsa to Bengal

[Saudang]

Who ever request is need to be hang in public. No room for compromise when comes to Indian. That country want us dead.

you are not sending it as gift, rather pure business. that is almost $72 million dollar worth of fish export.

Bangldesh can think of utilizing that amount to offload some of the $1 billion dues owed to India electricity companies..

 

[TheChooChooTrain]

Earlier this month, the interim government in Bangladesh had decided to stop ilish export to India, ostensibly to meet the domestic demand and control domestic prices. That decision threatened to end a tradition nurtured by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Kinsuk Basu, Subhasish Chaudhuri Calcutta

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Bengal will not be denied its plate of Padmar ilish this Puja season, after all.

The interim government in Bangladesh has decided to export 3,000 tonnes of ilish (hilsa) to Bengal “on the occasion of the upcoming Durga Puja”, junking its earlier decision not to send across the border one of the state’s most loved varieties of fish.

The Bangladesh commerce ministry released a notification on Saturday seeking applications by September 24 noon from traders who wish to export ilish to Bengal.

Signed by Sultana Akhtar of the commerce ministry, the notification refers to permission to export 3,000 tonnes of ilish.

Bengal will not be denied its plate of Padmar ilish this Puja season, after all.


The interim government in Bangladesh has decided to export 3,000 tonnes of ilish (hilsa) to Bengal “on the occasion of the upcoming Durga Puja”, junking its earlier decision not to send across the border one of the state’s most loved varieties of fish.

The Bangladesh commerce ministry released a notification on Saturday seeking applications by September 24 noon from traders who wish to export ilish to Bengal.

Signed by Sultana Akhtar of the commerce ministry, the notification refers to permission to export 3,000 tonnes of ilish.

“The export approval is based on appeals made by Indian exporters, subject to certain conditions,” it says.

Copies of the notification have been sent to the Bangladesh high commissioner’s office in New Delhi and the deputy high commissioner’s office in Calcutta.

“The notification doesn’t mention a timetable for the export... we believe there will be a separate one outlining the timeframe,” said Syed Anwar Maqsood, secretary of the Fish Importer’s Association (FIA) in Calcutta.

“But it has in principle been decided that Bengal will receive ilish from Bangladesh this festive season, and that’s reason enough to celebrate.”

Last year, the Bangladesh commerce ministry had allowed 79 fish exporters to send 3,950 tonnes of ilish to India as a Durga Puja gesture. Importers said only 1,300 tonnes eventually reached the state. In 2022, the same volume of ilish had arrived in Bengal from Bangladesh.

Fish importers in Calcutta and Howrah said they had been importing ilish from Bangladesh since 1996.

Earlier this month, the interim government in Bangladesh had decided to stop ilish export to India, ostensibly to meet the domestic demand and control domestic prices. That decision threatened to end a tradition nurtured by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Within days of the decision, ilish importers from Bengal wrote to Touhid Hossain, an adviser to the Bangladesh government, seeking a rethink.

“...We seek your kind intervention and request you to please allow export of hilsa fish for Durga Puja. It may be worthy to note that the hilsa from Bangladesh is in great demand amongst connoisseurs of fish in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura,” the letter, signed by Maqsood, said.

Kartick Chakraborty, secretary of the Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association, said: “There were concerns about India-Bangladesh relations souring after Sheikh Hasina’s exit, but this move will help rebuild trust.”

The impending arrival of ilish from Bangladesh has sparked hopes of a drop in prices. Currently, Padma ilish weighing over 1kg, brought in through unofficial channels, is selling for around ₹2,000 a kg.

“We expect prices to fall once the first consignment arrives, hopefully by next week,” an FIA member said.

Sources in Bangladesh suggested the export ban was motivated partly by the surge in anti-India sentiments in the country following the fall of Hasina. So, what led to the change of heart?

“It’s become clear to the interim government that bowing to the anti-India sentiments among a large section of the Bangladeshi people would not eventually benefit the country,” a Bangladeshi exporter said.

“India’s decision to continue onion exports to Bangladesh, despite a global shortage, may have influenced this decision, too. India supplies up to 800,000 tonnes of onions to Bangladesh annually, and the interim government probably didn’t want to jeopardise this relationship.”

On Saturday, ilish lovers in Calcutta were rejoicing.

“The news is an absolute delight for an ilish lover like me. They say that a Bengali can forget everything but not the taste of ilish maachher jhol,” said restaurateur Anjan Chatterjee.

I don't get what the big fuss is about either way. 99% of the country does not know what Hilsa fish is. Those who know likely won't buy it due to the extreme cost of the fish.

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

99% of the country does not know what Hilsa fish is

How can they? Total catch doesn't even satisfy Bangladeshs own need.

Those who know likely won't buy it due to the extreme cost of the fish.

It is simple demand and supply issue. If you have any Bengali friend ask him/her for "Shorshe Ilish" made with Bangladeshi Ilish. Then you will know why it cost so much.

 

[Pingle]

No one dies for a not eating a fish you moron.

Bangladesh has hit us where it hurts. Durga Puja will be incomplete without Hilsa

The Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina had reintroduced what is now called ‘hilsa diplomacy’ in 2019. Now, it’s a bone of contention between India and Bangladesh.

theprint.in

"Bangladesh has hit us where it hurts. It has banned the export of Padma Hilsa or Ilish to India a month before Durga Puja. The Hilsa is not just a fish. It is both an emotion and an initiation ritual."

In fact, i am surprised Bengalis on the other side making a big deal out of it.

Bangladesh has banned Hilsa from Padma river to India? What is the reason and also I would like to know does it mean this Hilsa fish in particular is found only in Bangladesh waters?

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

It's more to do with economics than anything else. Easy to say "Boycott Endia" when you are not in power. Once you are in power and you see how the country runs, most opinions will change over the next few months.

He he he NO. For us boycotting india isn't much painful. Because india isn't a dollar machine for us, Simple. And about raw materials we import from india, we have much better alternatives in international market. Our problem is we lack storage and handling capabilities for large shippings. That make india an attractive choice for our businesses.
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BAL/Hasina dictatorship entrapped us with india too much. Because you indians provided her with diplomatic and intelligence support.
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We will definitely decouple ourselves from india. But, it can't be done within just 2 months after the fall of Hasina dictatorship. It will take years to decouple from india without creating market shock.
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I know indians like to see themselves as a bigger player like China. But, unfortunately india isn't one. Just because indias own "Boycott China" campaign (started after getting beaten by china in galwan valley) with hilarious demonstrations, failed terribly. That doesn't mean BD will be a failure too...

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

Bangladesh has banned Hilsa from Padma river to India?

We general public wanted to, but commerce ministry gave us a middle finger.

What is the reason

Hilsh catch per season doesn't even satisfy our own demand. Price always stays above lower middle class peoples affordability.

also I would like to know does it mean this Hilsa fish in particular is found only in Bangladesh waters?

No. India/Burma catches lots of fishes belongs to hilsha family with different name. Those are meh. Only Bangladeshi hilsha is the real deal. If you eat fish, you will definitely like hilsha...

 

[Pingle]

We general public wanted to, but commerce ministry gave us a middle finger.

Hilsh catch per season doesn't even satisfy our own demand. Price always stays above lower middle class peoples affordability.

No. India/Burma catches lots of fishes belongs to hilsha family with different name. Those are meh. Only Bangladeshi hilsha is the real deal. If you eat fish, you will definitely like hilsha...

Thanks for your reply.... I cannot eat fish I am a pure vegetarian....