Ahead of Durga Puja, Bangladesh cuts hilsa supply to India; export quota down 50%

Hilsa, locally known as ilish, is the most sought-after fish in West Bengal during Durga Puja, with demand peaking in the festive season.

Bangladesh has reportedly approved the export of 1,200 tonnes of hilsa fish to India ahead of Durga Puja, a move seen as both a festive gesture and a diplomatic signal.

The allocation, however, is significantly lower than last year’s 3,950-tonne quota.

According to the Bangladeshi daily, Prothom Alo, the Ministry of Commerce issued an order on Monday setting the minimum export price at Rs 1,520.73 ($12.50) per kilogram.

Exporters have been asked to apply afresh with valid trade licences, tax records and clearance from the Department of Fisheries by September 11. Furthermore, the order bars transfer of permits, subcontracting, or exceeding quotas, and reserves the government’s right to halt shipments at any stage.

Hilsa, locally known as ilish, is the most sought-after fish in West Bengal during Durga Puja, with demand peaking in the festive season.

In 2024, Dhaka permitted 2,420 tonnes for export after initially considering 3,000 tonnes, following former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's escape to India.

This year’s allocation of 1,200 tonnes remarkably marks one of the lowest supplies in recent years.

Confirming the decision, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah posted on X, “Ilish coming! Bangladesh Govt just decided to export the quintessential fish to India ahead of festival seasons, as a mark of enduring friendship.”

The move comes against the backdrop of tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka following Hasina's exit last August.

Hilsa is a migratory species that travels from the Bay of Bengal into rivers to spawn, and is found in the Padma and Meghna in Bangladesh, the Hooghly and Brahmaputra in India, and rivers as far afield as Myanmar’s Irrawaddy and Pakistan’s Indus.

In West Bengal, the prized Padma hilsa is the most expensive variety, while Kolaghat hilsa from southern Bengal and Burmese ilish remain cheaper alternatives.

Most imports arrive through the Petrapole land border in North 24 Parganas.

Notably, hilsa exports to India have often been shaped by politics.

Between 2012 and 2018, Bangladesh banned supplies to West Bengal amid disputes over the Teesta water-sharing agreement, leading to shortages and cross-border smuggling. The ban was lifted in 2018 after Hasina’s re-election, with 500 tonnes sent to Kolkata in 2020 ahead of Durga Puja.

Despite these periodic gestures, environmental concerns and overfishing continue to threaten hilsa stocks in the region, raising questions over the long-term sustainability of the trade.