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Last year the export was 1,400 tonnes. Bangladeshi exporters and Indian importers have demanded to increase exports this year. Bangladesh is planning to export 5000 tons of Hilsa fish to India on the occasion of Durga Puja. Not only that, the government will keep a strict watch on the institutions which will be allowed to export, whether they are working accordingly or not.
According to sources in the Ministry of Commerce, in
September last year, 115 companies were given permission to export a total of
4600 tons of Hilsa to India, but many did not do so. However, in the previous
year in 2020, first 1450 tons and then another 400 tons of Hilsa were exported
in the light of government permission.
More than a hundred companies have already applied to the
Ministry of Commerce to get permission to export hilsa this year. Out of which,
initially 50 companies have been selected to issue Hilsa export permits to
India.
Durga Puja will start from October 1. Hilsa is usually
exported to India on the occasion of Durga Puja. Although the export was
stopped from 2012 to 2018, the export of Hilsa to the country was started again
from 2019.
Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh said last Thursday (September 01, 2022), 'India exported 1400 tons of Hilsa last time. At that time, the ban on catching Hilsa was one of the obstacles in terms of export. However, this year we expect the export to be more. It is also being considered to extend the period of export.
Last time, the first consignment of hilsa from Bangladesh
went to Kolkata through the Benapole-Petrapole border by land. Generally hilsa
weighing 700 grams to 1200 grams is exported in India.
Apart from Bangladesh, Hilsa is found in neighboring India,
Myanmar, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. But Bangladeshi Hilsa
is the most popular in terms of taste.
It is said that the Ministry of Commerce is unhappy because
the exports were not good last time. Last time, the Ministry of Commerce had written
to 73 companies for not exporting Hilsa to India even with permission.
According to sources, those who exported, their quantity ranged from 3 to 40
tonnes.
The Ministry of Commerce allows a company to export up to a
maximum of 40 tonnes of Hilsa. The time given for this is 15 days. According to
the sources, the Ministry of Commerce will inform the Office of the Chief
Controller of Imports and Exports about the permission to export Hilsa within
two weeks.
Every year in the month of October 22 days, Hilsa
extraction, transportation, storage, marketing, buying and exchange are
prohibited throughout the country. The ban was imposed by the Ministry of
Fisheries and Livestock from October 4 to 25 last year. This ban will start on
October 7.
Exporters say the puja and ban fall fairly close together.
So they cannot export Hilsa within the stipulated time. Exports are allowed
despite lack of time and capacity for export. Both of these are one of the
reasons for not exporting Hilsa to India. Considering the difficulties faced by
the exporters, the Ministry of Commerce extended the deadline for the export of
Hilsa till November last time.
According to Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association
(BFFEA), five and a half to 6 lakh tons of Hilsa are produced in the country
annually. Four to five thousand tons of Hilsa are exported from it. Due to
this, prices and supply do not have much impact on the market. It also earns
foreign exchange equal to 200 crore rupees.
BFFEA President Md. Amin Ullah said, 'Last time I suffered
losses. I will not apply this time. A total of two months should be given at
least one month before and after the ban. Otherwise not much can be exported
even with permission. As time is less, everyone goes to the market together.
Then the price of Hilsa rose unnecessarily in the market of both countries.
Meanwhile, from Kolkata, the Fish Importers Association of
Kolkata sent an application to the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh and
said that last year, Bangladeshi traders could not export Hilsa due to the
short export deadline. This time the deadline should be increased to 45 days.
And the Bangladesh government should take measures to increase the export
amount to 5 thousand tons.
General Secretary of Fish Importers Association Syed Anwar
Maqsud said last Thursday (September 01, 2022), "We hope that the Prime
Minister of Bangladesh will not deprive us of Hilsa like last 3 years."
|Source: Online/SZK
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