Bangladesh has exported 173 tonnes of Hilsa to India in three days till Monday through the Benapole port, according to the Benapole Fisheries Office.
The government allowed the export of 3,950 tonnes of Hilsa to India this year. Kolkata dwellers are happy to get Padma's Hilsa before the Durga puja.
But the export of Hilsa leads to price hike in Bangladesh. Buyers in the country's market are expressing anger over the increase in its price.
The price of the fish has increased by Tk 400-Tk 500 per kg in the domestic market after the export decision, said consumers.
The government stopped exporting Hilsa in 2012 due to its decline in production. Aiming to strengthen ties with India, the government allowed the export of Hilsa to India on the occasion of puja from 2019.
Expressing anger over not being able to buy Hilsa in Benapole market, Moshiar Rahman, a consumer, said, "I could not buy Hilsa this year as the price of Hilsa doubled in the market."
Shahid, a Hilsa trader in the market, said the price of the fish is increasing due to exports. At present, Hilsa weighing 1kg is being sold at Tk 2,000, and 500 grams of Hilsa at Tk 1,200, he added.
Kartik Chandra, general secretary of the Indian C&F Agency Staff Association, said, "Due to good relations between the two countries, we have got Bangladeshi Hilsa before the puja. We are very happy."
Mahbubur Rahman, fisheries quarantine officer of Benapole Fisheries Office, said, “Export of Hilsa started on Thursday with the special permission of the government.
“In the last three days [Thursday, Saturday and Monday], over 173 tonnes of Hilsa were exported to India. The country's 79 Hilsa exporters’ organizations will finish exporting the remaining Hilsa by October 30," he said.
