A total of 411 metric tons and 300 kilograms of hilsa fish have been exported to India by 131 trucks through Benapole land port in Jessore over the last one week.
Of the hilsa, 54 metric tons and 460 kgs were exported to India by 20 trucks on Thursday (September 26), 45 metric tons and 200 kgs by 15 trucks on Saturday, 19 mteric tons by six trucks on Sunday, 89 metric tons by 30 trucks on Monday, 69 metric tons and 640 kgs by 23 trucks on Tuesday, 92 metric tons by 30 trucks on Thursday and 42 metric tons by 13 trucks till 6:30pm on Saturday (October 5).
Each kg of hilsa is being exported to India at US$10, which is 1,180 in Bangladesh taka.
One Kamal Hossain who comes at Benapole bazar to by fish, said A hilsa weighing a kilogram was sold at Tk 1,800 kg at Benapole fish market on Saturday. But, the same size of fish is being exported to India at a price by Tk 600 less. "So, why I'm being forced to buy the fish of our own country at higher prices," he asked.
Referring to exporting hilsa at low price, Benapole Land Port Fisheries Inspection and Quality Control official Mahbubur Rahman said, "The order for exporting hilsa was issed several years ago. However, now the prices of hilsa can be re-fixed in line with the local market prices."
Benapole Land Port's deputy director Rashedul Sajib Nazir said, "Some 42 metric tons of hilsa were exported to India by 13 trucks till Saturday evening. With this, a total of 411 metric tons and 300 kgs of hilsa have been exported to India in a week."
It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Commerce first granted permission to export 3,000 metric tons of hilsa to India on the occasion of ensuing Durga Puja. Subsequently, it gave permission to export 2,420 metric tons of hilsa to India. Some 49 exporting firms were accorded the permission. Among these, each of the 48 firms was given permission to export 2,400 tons of hilsa, while the rest one firm was accorded permission to export 20 tons of hilsa.
