Editorial, News & commercial office:
55/A, H M Siddique Mansion (Level-7), Purana Paltan, Motijhel C/A, Dhaka-1000. Phone: +8802226640056,
e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Once celebrated as the world's preeminent exporter of Hilsa, Bangladesh is witnessing an unprecedented market shift as dwindling domestic catches and soaring retail prices have driven commercial traders to import significant volumes of the prized fish from neighboring India.
During the first two months of the current fiscal year (July and August), 19 registered Bangladeshi importing firms brought in over 350 metric tons (3.5 lakh kg) of Hilsa valued at nearly Tk 7 crore through the Benapole land port. According to the West Bengal Chilled Fish Exporters Association, roughly 500 metric tons of Hilsa have crossed into Bangladesh via West Bengal over the past two months, with the bulk originating from the Narmada estuary in Bharuch, Gujarat.
The supply squeeze in Bangladesh stems from river pollution, unrestricted extraction of juvenile fish (jatka), sand mining, and unregulated deep-sea trawling, which have disrupted historic migration paths. Consequently, retail prices for prime one-kilogram Padma Hilsa have climbed to Tk 2,800 in Dhaka markets, while 500-gram specimens fetch around Tk 1,600. Official statistics reflect this decline: domestic Hilsa output fell from 5.71 lakh metric tons in FY 2022–23 to 5.29 lakh tons in FY 2023–24, dropping further to 5.04 lakh tons in FY 2024–25, and estimated below 5 lakh tons in FY 2025–26. Moreover, against an export target of 1,200 tons last fiscal year, Bangladesh managed to export under 110 tons.
In contrast, Gujarat has experienced bumper harvests over recent seasons. Syed Anwar Maqsud, an exporter based in West Bengal, explained that Gujarati Hilsa—sourced from Bharuch via refrigerated trucks to wholesale hubs in Howrah—are large, egg-laden, and highly sought after by Bangladeshi consumers and processors who export fish roe to Western markets. At an import cost of roughly $2 (Tk 246) or less per kilogram before duties, the landed price remains far cheaper than local fish.
Director General of the Department of Fisheries Dr. Md. Khaled Kanak acknowledged that limited import permits were issued following trader appeals, noting that Hilsa imports are legally permitted. Kanak also questioned the efficacy of a six-year, Tk 400-crore project launched in 2020 by the previous administration to bolster domestic production, calling for an inquiry into whether official negligence contributed to the harvest decline.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/business/1f1b0649-dd61-6ff0-ae23-20272792f7d9