In a gesture of goodwill, the interim government of Bangladesh has declared its intention to supply 1,200 tonnes of hilsa fish to India in anticipation of the upcoming Durga Puja festivities this month. An official release, issued on Monday (September 8, 2025), stated that the decision had been made “in principle” and called for fish exporters to submit their applications by September 11.
“Ilish (hilsa) is coming! The Bangladesh government just decided to export the quintessential fish to India ahead of the festival season as a mark of enduring friendship,” Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah said.
The hilsa fish, which is highly valued during celebrations in the eastern Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura, will be priced at $12.5, approximately ₹1,100 per kilogram. This price is significantly lower than the current market rates for hilsa in India. Traditionally, Bangladesh has exported hilsa ahead of the Durga Puja and Dussehra festivals.
Key hilsa-producing regions like Barishal, Meghna, Padma, Jamuna, Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, and Bhola, which were once abundant with large hilsa, have seen a marked decrease in fish volume this year.
There are concerns regarding the actual amount of hilsa that may reach India via the Benapole border into Bengal through Petrapole, especially due to reports of an extremely low hilsa catch in the rivers of Bangladesh. Samsul Hoq from the Bangladesh Fishermen Association noted that the current catch trends are discouraging, as the rivers have not produced large fish this season.”Hilsa in the 800–900 gm range is more common, while 1-kg plus sizes are rare and selling at Rs 2,300–2,400 in Bangladesh itself,” he said, expressing reluctance to apply for export this year.
In the past four years, the quantity of hilsa actually exported has fallen short of what the Bangladesh government had authorized. While 13,870 tonnes were approved for export from 2021 to 2024, only 3,664 tonnes—just over a quarter—were successfully delivered to India. Syed Anwer Maqsood, the secretary of the Howrah Wholesale Fish Market and Fish Importer’s Association, also expressed doubts regarding the volume and consistency of the forthcoming supplies.”Past experiences show that short-time bulk consignments hamper trade. Since puja has arrived early this year, the timeline should ideally be extended,” he felt.The decision to export hilsa has sparked mixed feelings on both sides of the border. Some individuals believe that this move could enhance relations between the two nations, while others remain cautious.
The shipment of 1,200 tonnes of hilsa is anticipated to arrive in West Bengal. Although diplomatic sources indicate that Bangladesh had sought to dispatch additional consignments to Assam and Tripura, local importers did not respond within the specified timeframe. The 1,200 tonnes are less than what has been dispatched in prior years for the same occasion. In 2024, the interim government under Muhammad Yunus sent 3,000 tonnes of hilsa before the Durga Puja celebrations, with similar quantities during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina.
This announcement aligns with the commencement of the Joint River Commission meeting, where discussions on river water sharing are set to take place on Tuesday (September 9, 2025).
