The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Barisal

Export of Hilsha to India is set to resume on January 9 next after the expiry of a six-month ban by the caretaker government.

Yusuf Sikder, secretary of Barisal Fish Exporters Association, said the decision banning Hilsha export for six months was approved in a meeting of the Council of Advisers on July 4, 2007 and came into effect from July 8.

According to the decision, the export of Hilsha fish to India will resume on January 9, 2008.

A letter in this regard reached the Benapole land customs port on Wednesday for taking necessary preparations, Sikder informed.

He said: "We have already contacted Atul Das, president of Kolkata Hilsha Fish Importers Association, and he expressed the hope that if the exported Hilsha reach India before Saraswati Puja, it could gain a good market."

He added: "An average of 40 tons of Hilsha were exported daily to India through Benapole land port and 20 importing firms of West Bengal purchased Hilsha worth Tk 250 crores from us last year."

The volume of Hilsha export from Bangladesh was 3,414 metric tons in fiscal 2006-07 and 4,495 metric tons in fiscal 2005-06.

Yusuf Sikder further said the price of standard size Hilsha became high due to the rise in expense of catching, as prices of fuel and spare parts of the fishing trawlers increased.

The decision of banning Hilsha export was taken after an investigation team of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock submitted a report following visits to Barisal, Bhola and Cox's Bazar to find out the cause of excessive price of Hilsha fish.

The team was formed following media reports on high price of Hilsha in the local market during the peak season and sale of exported Hilsha in Indian markets at prices lower than the country of origin.

During the visits, the team talked to Hilsha merchants including wholesalers, retailers, exporters and importers, as well as fishermen and officials of the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry.

After imposing ban on Hilsha export, the price of Hilsha in local markets came down by 30-50 percent.

Meanwhile, Nur Muhammad, manager of Barisal BFDC fish loading and unloading center, said a framework and guidelines about Hilsha fishing and marketing, including export quality, quantity and price, would have to be prepared keeping in view the internal demand.

Such guidelines should be announced before export of Hilsha is resumed, he said.