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বাংলা E-Paper 📍 Dhaka 📅 Sunday | 13 September 2026, 29 Bhadro 1433 PID registration number 06

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3.5 lakh kg hilsa imported from India

Published : Sunday, 13 September, 2026 at 5:19 PM

Observer online report

Some 352,786 kg of hilsa was imported from India through Benapole land port in Jashore in the first two months of the 2026-27 fiscal year, officials said.

According to the Fisheries Quarantine Office at Benapole, 29,440 kg of hilsa was imported in July through three firms, while 323,346 kg entered the country in August through 19 firms.

The imported hilsa was valued at Tk 69.29 million, including Tk 3.55 million worth of fish imported in July and Tk 65.75 million in August.

The sharp rise in imports has increased hilsa supplies in markets in Benapole, Sharsha, Bagachra, Navaran and Jashore. The volume imported in August was nearly 11 times higher than in July.

Fisheries Quarantine Office Inspector Ashwadul Alam said the 352,786 kg of hilsa was imported during July and August.

However, local traders claim that some of the fish are actually from Myanmar and enter Bangladesh through India. Fisheries quarantine officials said the hilsa entering through Benapole is Indian, while Myanmar hilsa enters through Chattogram port.

Traders and consumers have also raised concerns that imported hilsa is sometimes being sold as local fish. Consumers say the foreign fish looks similar to local hilsa but differs in taste and smell.

At Jashore’s Barabazar, local hilsa weighing 1.2-1.3 kg is selling for around Tk 3,300-3,400 per kg, while the imported fish, reportedly weighing 1.3-1.4 kg, is selling for around Tk 1,400 per kg.

Jashore District Fisheries Officer Monirul Mamun said they regularly monitor fish markets but could not take legal action under fisheries laws if traders sell imported fish as local fish.

Assistant Director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection in Jashore Md Selimuzzaman said imported hilsa must be sold with proper disclosure. He said the matter would be investigated and drives would be conducted if necessary.

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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