Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
The government has approved the export of 3,950 tonnes of Hilsa fish, a delicacy beloved similarly by Bengalis both in Bangladesh and West Bengal, to India ahead of the Hindu community's biggest religious festival, Durga Puja.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Commerce issued special approvals to 79 trading firms out of over 100 applications submitted to the relevant department.
Each trading firm is permitted to ship 50 tonnes of hilsa, with the authorisation valid until October 30, 2023, according to the commerce ministry.
During shipments, traders are required to maintain the Export Policy-2021-24, and a thorough physical examination must be conducted by the respective customs authority.
According to the approval, the permission is non-transferrable and only the approved exporters are allowed to engage in the fish exportation.
Besides, the traders will only be able to export the designated volume set by the commerce ministry, and the government reserves the right to halt the export consignments at any time.
In a separate development on Wednesday, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock declared a 22-day ban on hilsa fishing, starting from October 12, as it marks the prime breeding season for the year.
Throughout this ban, the procurement, marketing, purchasing, selling, transportation, stocking and exchange of hilsa will be strictly prohibited nationwide.
In early September, Indian traders submitted a proposal at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata, seeking 5000 tonnes of hilsa in anticipation of the upcoming Hindu festival.
According to the commerce ministry, around 2900 tonnes of hilsa were permitted for export during last year's Durga Puja. Of it, traders exported only 1300 tonnes, less than the allotted amount.
The previous years also followed a similar pattern as the hilsa export fell short by 30-40 per cent of the export ceilings set by Bangladesh.