BD ships 37.5 tonnes Hilsa to India

City Desk :

Bangladesh has exported its first batch of hilsa to India ahead of this year’s Durga Puja, sending 37.46 tonnes of the fish across the Benapole Land Port.
Eight trucks carrying the consignment crossed into India in the wee hours of Tuesday to mark the start of seasonal exports approved by Dhaka for the festival.
Although relations between the neighbours have been strained in recent times, Bangladesh’s interim government has conditionally approved the export of 1,200 tonnes of hilsa to India especially popular among Bengalis in West Bengal for the Durga Puja festival. The minimum price has been fixed at $12.50 per kg, but no upper limit has been set by the government, reports bdnews24.com.

A total of 37 companies have been given the green light to export hilsa. Among them, one company has been allowed to export 50 tonnes, 25 companies 30 tonnes each, nine companies 40 tonnes each, and two companies 20 tonnes each.
The companies must complete their exports by Oct 5. Exports cannot exceed the permitted limit, and the approval is strictly non-transferable, meaning the company holding the permit must carry out the export itself.
According to sources at Benapole port, hilsa from the Padma River is in high demand in West Bengal. However, due to declining production, the government banned exports after 2012.