Hilsa export resumes after 6 months
Export of delicious Hilsa fish from Bangladesh to India resumed from Wednesday, after expiry of a six-month ban.
Following shipment of 43 tonnes of Hilsa fish by three fish exporting firms of Bangladesh crossed BenapolePetrapole land customs ports of the two countries on Wednesday and Thursday, the fish have already reached local markets there, sources said.
Yusuf Sikder, secretary of Barisal fish exporters association, said a letter on this regard has been reached Benapole land customs port on last December 19, 2007 for taking necessary preparations. The rate of shipment was US dollar 4 per Kg as per the letter of credit opened earlier.
In the market of West Bengal the Hilsa of first shipment was auctioned as Indian Rs.180-200 per Kg. in wholesale market on Wednesday night and sold at the rate of Tk.200-250 per Kg in retail market on Thursday morning, said Yusuf Sikder.
As the exported Bangladeshi Hilsa reached India before the Swaraswati Puja, it is expected to get a good market and retail price may reach up to Rs 300 per kg, sources said.
The amount of Hilsha export from Bangladesh in 2006-07 and 2005-06 fiscal year was 3,414 and 4495 tonnes.
The government took the decision to ban Hilsa export to India for six months to make the item of delicacy affordable for common people after imposition of the ban, the price of Hilsa in local markets reduced by 30%-50%.
Target of Hilsa catching for current fiscal fixed as 3 lakhs tonne against the 2.8 lakhs tonne of last fiscal and so only 5 thousands tonne export to India would not effect Bangladesh market, the exporters association sources claimed.
Nur Muhammad, manager of Barisal BFDC fish loading and unloading centre, said a framework and guidelines about the Hilsa fishing and marketing policy including the quality, quantity and price of exported fish and fulfilling the demands of internal market must be prepared and announced before resuming Hilsa export.
The government would monitor the process of Hilsa fishing including breeding, catching, marketing process, amount of export and check black marketing and smuggling, he said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments