Bangladesh halts Hilsa imports and may block exports to India ahead of Durga Puja

Bangladesh’s fisheries department issued an order on Tuesday that halted Hilsa imports from both India and Myanmar, withdrawing the no-objection certificates of 103 fish importers. According to SA Maqsood of the Fish Importers’ Association in West Bengal, more than 580 MT of Hilsa had entered Bangladesh from India in the last two months, and the fish was also sourced from Myanmar. Historically, Bangladesh has permitted a limited amount of Hilsa to be exported to India each year ahead of Durga Puja, with volumes ranging from 1,200 MT to nearly 4,000 MT in recent years, though actual shipments have often been lower.

One outlet suspension fuels concerns that the export window may close before the festival, leaving Indian traders unable to secure the prized Padma River Hilsa. Maqsood warned that even if approval is granted now, the time left before the October 10 start of Durga Puja may be insufficient to move a significant quantity across the Petrapole land port.