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A good number of traders have sought permission to export hilsa fish to neighbouring India ahead of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community.
Usually, there remains a higher demand for delicious hilsa fish in India especially in West Bengal during the annual religious festival.
Around 60 private firms have already sought permission from the commerce ministry to export hilsa to the neighbouring country on the occasion of the festival, a senior official said.
He said the firms have recently requested the ministry to give special approval in this regard. More traders are likely to apply for exporting hilsa fish to India.
Nearly 200 people applied for permission to export hilsa last year. Of them, only nine got export facility, he added.
In September 2020, the government allowed export of 1,475 tonnes of hilsa to India as a gesture of goodwill on the occasion of Durga Puja.
In 2019, the government gave permission to export 500 tonnes of hilsa during Durga Puja.
Hilsa export has remained suspended since 2012.
When contacted, commerce secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh said, "We have yet to take any decision about export of national fish hilsa to India during the upcoming Durga Puja."
The commerce ministry allowed export of hilsa fish last year, he added.
The country produces more or less 0.55 million tonnes of hilsa annually, a source involved with the sector said.
"We have received a significant number of applications and are now working on the issue," said a high official of the commerce ministry.
Some firms who applied for permission said they are eager to export the country's hilsa fish to India.
When contacted, managing director of J.J trading International Masba Uddin said, "If we get permission to export hilsa fish to India on the occasion of Durga Puja, we will be able to export such consignment properly as we have already taken required steps in this regard."
Market observers, however, said allowing export of hilsa might have an impact on the prices of delicious fish in the domestic market.