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In a break from tradition, Bangladesh's interim government has banned the export of Padma Hilsa, or "ilish," to India a month before Durga Puja, according to media.
In a break from tradition, Bangladesh’s interim government has banned the export of Padma Hilsa, or “ilish,” to India a month before Durga Puja, according to media. This fish from the Padma River is a staple in Bengali cuisine, where ilish and khichdi are festive favorites.
Following the removal of Sheikh Hasina, who had upheld the export of Padma Hilsa as a gesture of goodwill, the ban is expected to drive up fish prices significantly. Bangladesh previously imposed a similar ban from 2012-2020 due to supply and price issues but had exempted India from this restriction.
The Bangladeshi govt banned Hilsa exports to secure adequate supply for local consumers amidst a scarcity of the fish. Bangladesh, which produces 70% of the world’s ilish, faces supply shortages despite its status as the national fish.
Farida Akhtar, advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, cited the need to prioritize domestic demand as the reason for the ban. Farida Akhtar explained, “We cannot allow ilish to be exported while our own people cannot buy them.
This year, I have instructed the Ministry of Commerce to prevent any ilish exports to India during Durga Puja.” Despite previous export bans in 2012 over the Teesta water sharing dispute, trade had resumed due to strong neighborly ties and cultural connections, leading to the term ‘Hilsa diplomacy’.
Due to the supply shortage from Bangladesh, most Padma Hilsa in India will need to be imported from Myanmar and the Indian states of Odisha and Gujarat. Following anti-government protests in July, Delhi markets have sourced Hilsa through Myanmar trade routes, leading to a rise in prices for this high-demand fish.
“We are now selling a 1-1.3 kg Hilsa from Bangladesh for ₹2,200 to ₹2,400 per kilo, up from ₹1,800 to ₹2,000 a kilo a few months ago,” a Delhi fish retailer told India Today.
In 2019, Bangladesh allowed 500 tonnes of Hilsa to be exported to India as a Durga Puja ‘gift,’ while in 2023, approximately 3,950 tonnes were sent for the festival.
