Bangladesh has been exporting hilsa fish to India for five
years before Durga Puja. On the same occasion, the government has approved the
export of 3000 tons of hilsa fish to India. As a result, Indians, especially
the citizens of West Bengal, are getting Hilsa from Bangladesh before Durga Puja,
which starts on October 8.
In the export policy of Bangladesh, hilsa is in the list of
exportable products subject to conditions. So it has to be exported with the
approval of the government. Ministry of Commerce approved the export of hilsa
today Saturday (September 21, 2024). Now interested exporters have to apply to
the Ministry of Commerce by 24 September 12 noon. Those who have already applied
do not need to apply again.
There is a great interest in Bangladeshi Hilsa fish in West Bengal,
India. Analysis of the data of the last five years shows that the amount of
hilsa exported from Bangladesh is only 0.29 percent of the total production.
Apart from this, less than the amount of hilsa that the government approves for
export goes to India. For example, the Ministry of Commerce allowed 3 thousand 950
tons to 79 companies last year, but hilsa was exported through Benapole and
Akhaura land ports in total about 802 tons.
In the National Export Policy (2015-18) released on
September 6, 2015, hilsa fish is placed on the list of conditionally exportable
products. It is kept the same in the next two export policies.
However, the first permission to export hilsa was given in
2019. The first three consignments were sent through Sebar's Benapole land port
at a rate of $6 (Bangladeshi taka 507) per kg of hilsa. Later, however, it
increased to $10 per kg. According to the data of the National Board of Revenue
(NBR), 476 tons or 4 lakh 76 thousand kg of hilsa were exported in the fiscal
year 2019-20. The income is 39 lakh dollars. In the fiscal year 2020-21, 1
thousand 699 tons of hilsa were exported and the income was 1 crore 64 lakh
dollar. At that time, hilsa fish was exported at the price of 10, 6 and 8
dollars per kg. In the financial year 2021-22, 1 thousand 230 tons were
exported and the income was 1 crore 24 lakh dollars. The export price was $10
per kg. In the fiscal year 2022-23, 1 thousand 391 tons of hilsa were exported
and the income was 1 crore 38 lakh dollars. In the last fiscal year 2023-24,
Bangladesh earned 80 lakh dollars through the export of 802 tons of hilsa. At
that time, the export price of hilsa fish per kg was 10 dollars or 1 thousand
98 taka.
Analyzing the data of fish import and export with India, it
can be seen that Bangladesh has earned 4 crore 87 lakh dollars by exporting
various types of fish including hilsa to India in the last financial year
2023-24. Other fishes include Pabda, Vetki and Punti. In contrast, Bangladesh
imported 63,000 tons of fresh and dried fish worth 3 crore 55 lakh dollars from
India during the same period. From that country are imported fish such as
laitta, kanchki, and poa shuntki as well as roe, catla, poa and mackerel.
Analysis of the data has shown that it is possible to meet
the price of dried fish imported from India with the income that Bangladesh
gets from exporting hilsa.
Although the Bangladesh government has approved the export
of hilsa, this time the people of Kolkata and West Bengal will have to eat
hilsa at a higher price. Because the price of fish is still very high in
Bangladesh. The price of one kilogram of sea hilsa now ranges from Tk 1,300 to
Tk 1,400. And the price of hilsa for 700-800 grams is like 1 thousand 100 taka.
However, the price of hilsa fish found in the river is higher.
Source: Online/GFMM
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