52 businesses get permission to export Hilsha to India

With certain conditions, Bangladesh government has given permission to 52 organisations to export 2,080 tonnes Hilsha to India on occasion of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community.

In a circular issued on Monday, the Ministry of Commerce has given the nod to each of these organisations to export 40 tonnes Hilsha to the neighboring country.

The permission will remain effective till October 10.

“Based on the appeal of the fish exporters, we have given permission to 52 exporters to export 40 tonnes hilsha fish each. To export, these companies have to comply with certain conditions,” Md Hafizur Rahman, additional secretary of the Commerce Ministry told the Business Post.

“We have given the permission reviewing applications received by September 15,” said Rahman.

For exporting Hilsha, a company has to comply with Export Policy 2018-2021. The exported Hilsha will also have to undergo rigorous testing process by the authorities concerned.

In addition, an exporter cannot transfer export permission and the amount cannot exceed the permissible limit of 40 tonnes. An exporter will also have to follow the guidelines and restrictions of the government to catch fishes and transport those.

Exports of Hilsha fish are usually prohibited but the government is giving the permission for the last couple of years as a token of friendship to its great friends.

Last year, Bangladesh exported 1,450 tons of Hilsha to India. According to the data of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), by exporting 1,450 tons of Hilsha Bangladesh earned $16.45 million in the last fiscal year.

In 2019, the government permitted the export of 500 tons of Hilsha to India.