KOLKATA: For the primary time in 5 years, Bengalis should go with out ‘Padmar ilish (hilsa from the Padma)’ — a extremely sought-after delicacy — forward of and through Durga Puja this 12 months, experiences Subhro Niyogi.
The interim govt in Bangladesh has turned down a request from Kolkata based mostly Fish Importers’ Affiliation to proceed with its nation’s ‘hilsa diplomacy’ with India, prioritising home demand over export.
Underneath this coverage, which now-deposed Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina pursued since 2019, Dhaka had been permitting the export of greater than 1,000 tonnes of hilsa from the Padma to India for a month within the run-up to Puja yearly.
The affiliation, which coordinates with Bangladeshi fish exporters for hilsa commerce every year, had written to Bangladesh govt adviser Touhid Hossain on Aug 9, pleading that the restricted hilsa commerce be allowed, like earlier years. However Farida Akhtar, fish and animal useful resource ministry adviser within the interim govt, has rejected the demand, citing burgeoning home demand. In response to experiences from Dhaka, Akhtar has requested the commerce ministry to make sure there isn’t a hilsa export this 12 months.
Affiliation secretary Syed Anwar Maqsood conceded that indicators of getting ‘Padmar ilish’ are bleak. So as to add to Bengali gourmands’ woes, a 22-day hilsa fishing ban kicks in subsequent month to permit the fish to put eggs.
“Earlier, we had been importing round 5,000 tonnes of hilsa a 12 months from Bangladesh by means of the Petrapole land customs station,” Maqsood mentioned. “The commerce was banned by the Bangladesh govt in 2012. From Sept 2019, govt had allowed hilsa commerce solely throughout Durga Puja as a goodwill gesture,” he added.
Final September, over 1,300 tonnes of hilsa was exported to India, the identical because the 12 months earlier than, below the ‘hilsa diplomacy’. In 2021, 1,200 tonnes of hilsa was imported.
Maqsood identified that in all three years, the quantity imported was decrease than what had been sanctioned by the Bangladesh govt.
Within the absence of commerce by means of official channels, hilsa consignments are being smuggled throughout the border with Tripura and being ferried to Kolkata. Additionally obtainable out there are hilsa from Myanmar and Gujarat, that are thought of much less delectable than the Bangladesh selection.
The interim govt in Bangladesh has turned down a request from Kolkata based mostly Fish Importers’ Affiliation to proceed with its nation’s ‘hilsa diplomacy’ with India, prioritising home demand over export.
Underneath this coverage, which now-deposed Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina pursued since 2019, Dhaka had been permitting the export of greater than 1,000 tonnes of hilsa from the Padma to India for a month within the run-up to Puja yearly.
The affiliation, which coordinates with Bangladeshi fish exporters for hilsa commerce every year, had written to Bangladesh govt adviser Touhid Hossain on Aug 9, pleading that the restricted hilsa commerce be allowed, like earlier years. However Farida Akhtar, fish and animal useful resource ministry adviser within the interim govt, has rejected the demand, citing burgeoning home demand. In response to experiences from Dhaka, Akhtar has requested the commerce ministry to make sure there isn’t a hilsa export this 12 months.
Affiliation secretary Syed Anwar Maqsood conceded that indicators of getting ‘Padmar ilish’ are bleak. So as to add to Bengali gourmands’ woes, a 22-day hilsa fishing ban kicks in subsequent month to permit the fish to put eggs.
“Earlier, we had been importing round 5,000 tonnes of hilsa a 12 months from Bangladesh by means of the Petrapole land customs station,” Maqsood mentioned. “The commerce was banned by the Bangladesh govt in 2012. From Sept 2019, govt had allowed hilsa commerce solely throughout Durga Puja as a goodwill gesture,” he added.
Final September, over 1,300 tonnes of hilsa was exported to India, the identical because the 12 months earlier than, below the ‘hilsa diplomacy’. In 2021, 1,200 tonnes of hilsa was imported.
Maqsood identified that in all three years, the quantity imported was decrease than what had been sanctioned by the Bangladesh govt.
Within the absence of commerce by means of official channels, hilsa consignments are being smuggled throughout the border with Tripura and being ferried to Kolkata. Additionally obtainable out there are hilsa from Myanmar and Gujarat, that are thought of much less delectable than the Bangladesh selection.
