411 tonnes of hilsa exported to India in a week

Some 411 tonnes of hilsa have been exported to India through Benapole land port in the past week.

Rashedul Sajeeb Najir, deputy director (traffic) at the port, came up with the information on Sunday (October 6).

Several traders say they did not find adequate hilsa at the storehouses due to the export to India.

People across the country, including Jashore, are disappointed at the decision to export hilsa to the neighbouring country as they have to buy the fish at higher prices.

They said the government is exporting hilsa to India at Tk 1,200 per kg while the same is being sold in local markets at Tk 1,800-2,000 a kg.

The government on September 25 gave clearance to 49 companies to export 2,420 tonnes of hilsa to India and directed them to complete the job by October 12.

However, Rocky Mahamud, manager of Satata Fish at Benapole, said it will be difficult to complete exporting hilsa within the stipulated date if the deadline is not extended as the government banned fishing, buying and selling, and storing hilsa for 22 days from October 13 to November 3.

Though exporting hilsa has begun in a special approval, many entities could not export the fish still now, said Mahbubur Rahman, Fisheries Quarantine Officer at Benapole.

Md Jamal Hossain/MSU/NMA