Political analyst and chief adviser of The Muslim Times Md. Tajul Islam has said, it is wise of the interim government to export 3,000 M.T of  Hilsha to India at the advent of their biggest religious festival, Durga Puja. Bangladesh will earn both love and money from India by exporting Hilsha-fish.

ABDUL KHALEQUE KHANDKER

The interim government of Bangladesh has changed previous decision about the export of Hilsha fish to India. The Ministry of Commerce has approved export of Hilsa to India ahead of Durga Puja festival.

In an official order signed by Sultana Akhter, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, it was announced that the export of 3,000 metric tonnes of hilsa fish has been approved, according to a press release on Saturday.

This decision came following requests from several exporters, with the ministry setting specific conditions for the export.

Exporters have been asked to submit their applications to the Ministry of Commerce by 12 pm on September 24. Applications should be addressed to the Deputy Secretary, Export-2 Branch, Room 127, Building-3, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka.

No applications will be accepted after the deadline, though those who have already applied are not required to submit new applications.

Earlier, Bangladesh banned Hilsa export to India  to ensure adequate hilsa supply in the local market so that the prized fish remains more accessible to people. 

In this regard, political analyst and chief adviser of The Muslim Times Md. Tajul Islam has said, it is wise of the interim government to change the stand and export 3,000 M.T of  Hilsha to India at the advent of their biggest religious festival, Durga Puja.

Mr. Islam said, Bangladesh will earn both love and money from India by exporting Hilsha-fish.

But due to imposing ban on hilsha-fish, many traders and fishermen resorted to smuggling huge quantity of hilsha-fish from Bangladesh into India at the advent of the Durga puja. This way, Bangladesh government was deprived huge amount of excise duty.

 Chief adviser of the Muslim Times Md. Tajul Islam also said, if the Bangladesh government formally export hilsha fish to India, Bangladesh can earn huge money and excise duty. It will help country’s economy, but because of indiscriminate smuggling, Bangladesh will be deprived foreign currency as well as income tax.

Mr Islam added that India is our close neighbour and so, we have some duties to them as a good neighbour. We can export them their much expected hilsha fish as a good will gesture. This would be helpful to sustain good relationship between the two peoples and good co-existence.