The Bangladesh government has given some 79 enterprises permission to export some 3,950 metric tons (MTs) of Hilsa to neighboring India ahead of the Durga Puja.

The Ministry of Commerce issued permission in this regard today (September 20) and thus sent a letter to the Office of Chief Controller of Imports and Exports. Each of the 79 exporting enterprises would be able to export 50 metric tons of Hilsa.

Additional secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and chief of the export wing, Md Abdur Rahim Khan said, "India is our closest and a friendly neighbor. They are also a big trade partner of ours. So, like the previous years, permission has been given this time also to export Hilsa to India ahead of the Durga Puja."
 
He informed that after scrutiny, some 79 enterprises have been given permission to export Hilsa subject to fulfillment of some conditions.

No exporter will be able to export more than the quantity mentioned in the permission letter.

The deadline for exporting Hilsa will be in force until October 30. But, if the government imposes any restriction on the extraction and transportation of Hilsa during this period, then the permission for export would expire in line with the restriction.

The conditions also mention that the government holds the power to stop export of Hilsa anytime as per its necessity while this permission is not at all transferable or could not be subcontracted to anyone.

On September 14, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi told reporters that the government would allow the export of Hilsa to India centering the Durga Puja. He also hinted that there would not be any impact in the local market with the quantity of exportable Hilsa fish.

BDST: 1939 HRS, SEP 20, 2023
MN/SMS