Dhaka: Bangladesh has announced the conditional export of 1,200 tonnes of Hilsa fish, locally known as ilish, to India ahead of Durga Puja.
“The government has decided to allow the export of 1,200 metric tons of Hilsa to India on the occasion of Durga Puja in 2025,” the Bangladesh Commerce Ministry said in a notification issued late Monday.
The ministry added that applications from interested exporters must be submitted in hard copy during office hours, no later than 5 PM on September 11, 2025.
According to the notification, applications must include relevant documents such as an updated trade license, ERC, income tax certificate, VAT certificate, sales contract, and a license from the Department of Fisheries.
The government has set the minimum export price of Hilsa at USD 12.50 per kilogram. It also noted that exporters who applied before the notification’s publication will need to submit a fresh application.
Earlier, on September 27, 2024, the first consignment of Bangladesh’s “Padma Hilsa,” weighing around 45-50 tonnes, arrived in West Bengal. Officials described it as a much-anticipated shipment ahead of Durga Puja.
In total, the Bangladeshi interim government exported 2,420 tonnes of Hilsa to India.
At present, the wholesale price of Hilsa at Howrah’s fish market ranges from Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,600 per kilogram. Known for its superior taste, the fish crossed the Petrapole-Benapole border and reached Howrah, from where it was distributed to retail markets across Kolkata.
Bangladesh had banned Hilsa exports since July 2012 but has allowed special shipments to India during Durga Puja since 2019.
