A total of 2,420 tons of hilsa were allowed to be exported in 17 days during this period. A total of 533 tons of hilsa have been exported during this period. Out of this, 483 tons of hilsa have been exported through Benapole. According to Bangladeshi hilsa traders and exporters, fish could not be exported as per demand due to hilsa crisis and price in Bangladesh.
Like last year, hilsa was allowed to be exported at a price of $10 per kg. Traders are disappointed because of such low quantity of fish exports. For this reason, the businessmen have requested to extend the time for the export of hilsa. Mahbubur Rahman, Fisheries Quarantine Officer of Benapole Land Port, told the media that on September 25, the Ministry of Commerce gave permission to export 2420 metric tons of hilsa to 49 exporting companies. From September 26 to October 12 night, 533 metric tons of hilsa were exported to India. Its price is 53 lakh 30 thousand US dollars (63 crore 96 lakh taka in Bangladeshi currency).
Earlier this year, Bangladesh Fisheries Department said that hilsa will not be exported. Later this decision was changed by the government of Bangladesh. Commerce Ministry allows export of hilsa to India in 'larger interest'.
However, traders could not send the allowed amount of hilsa as in previous years. In the last financial year, around 4 thousand tons of hilsa were allowed to be exported. But 802 tons of hilsa were exported. According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), only 530,000 tonnes of hilsa have been exported to India in the last 5 years.