Bangladesh ships first lot of 37.46 tonnes of hilsa to India

Bangladesh shipped the first lot of 37.46 tonnes of hilsa fish to India in the early hours of today.

The fish were exported through Benapole land port after customs and quarantine clearance, Sajib Saha, quarantine officer of the Department of Fisheries in Jashore, told The Daily Star.

Five exporters supplied the fish in six consignments, he said.

Two consignments came from Bishwas Enterprise and the remaining four from Lucky Trading of Jashore's Jhikargachha, Tanisha Enterprise of Barishal, Satata Fish of Benapole and Jhornali Enterprise, he added.

"Most of the exported fish weighed between 600 and 700 grammes."

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Govt allows 1,200 tonnes of hilsa export to India

However, no export took place later in the day, nor will there be any at night, as trade with India remained suspended due to Bishwakarma Puja celebrations there.

Earlier, the commerce ministry issued an order permitting 37 exporters to ship 1,200 tonnes of hilsa to India between September 16 and October 5 for the Durga Puja festival.

The minimum export price has been set at $12.5 per kilogramme.

With the export order in effect, traders had already prepared stocks for shipment.

On Tuesday morning, hilsa were seen being iced, graded, and packaged at Barishal's wholesale landing centre on Port Road.

Fish weighing 700g to 1 kg were sorted into different grades, packed in cork sheet boxes, and preserved with ice.

Mohammad Babor, a staff member of exporter Tanisha Enterprise, said his firm could send only half a tonne of hilsa in today's shipment due to low availability in the market.