New Delhi: For years, Bangladesh has been supplying hilsa fish to India particularly during Durga Puja. But, something unusual has now occurred the trade has reversed. India is exporting approximately 500 tonnes of hilsa fish to Bangladesh in the past two months.In the last two months, about 500 tonnes of hilsa fish were exported to Bangladesh by India. Another 150 to 200 tonnes will probably be carried in the next couple of weeks as well, traders say.
So what’s the reason for the change of the guard? This year’s hilsa production is also less than normal in Bangladesh. Due to this scarcity, fish traders of the region began to consider looking into India to make the shortage good and supply the demand for this loved fish.
Exports are mainly coming from Gujarat and exit India via port of Bharuch. Some of the goods are also transshipped through Howrah wholesale fish market in WB to Bangladesh.
Syed Anwar Maqsood, president Howrah Wholesale Fish Importers’ Association, stated this is the first time in the history of fish movement between India and Bangladesh, in this direction. Normally, India exports other types of fishes to Bangladesh, such as boal, rohu, parse and tangra but not hilsa. This year’s scarcity of fish changed that, he added.
Interestingly, Gujarat’s hilsa isn’t very popular among buyers within India. This is because it is loaded with roe or fish eggs, preferred by fewer Indian buyers. However, this is what makes it popular in Bangladesh. Chattogram and Sylhet are the cities which show keen demand for hilsa rich in roe.
Maqsood adds that once the fish arrives in Bangladesh some of the roe is removed individually and it is sold separately. A few other parts of the fish are dried and sold like salted hilsa, a popular product of the region too.
Hilsa is a speciality of Bengali food and culture, both on the east and west sides of the border, and is typically linked to festive events such as Durga Puja. This new trade route demonstrates how, suddenly, the trading routine of neighbouring countries can change when they have a shortage of goods, and here India is helping to supply the hilsa that Bangladesh is in need of rather than the other way round.
