Highlights:
- Bangladesh approves export of 1,200 tons of hilsa to India this year.
- Ministry of Commerce issued the order on Monday (8 September).
- Exporters must apply with updated trade documents by 11 September.
- Government fixed minimum export price at $12.50 per kg.
- This year’s export quota is half of last year’s.
Export Permission Issued Ahead of Durga Puja
To meet the high demand of hilsa during the upcoming Durga Puja festival, Bangladesh will export 1,200 tons of hilsa to India this year. On Monday (8 September), the Ministry of Commerce officially issued the order, allowing conditional export.
Every year, Bangladesh exports hilsa to India during Durga Puja, especially because of the high demand in West Bengal.
Application Process for Exporters
According to the Ministry of Commerce, interested exporters must apply with a hard copy of their documents within office hours on 11 September.
The order mentioned:
“আবেদনের সঙ্গে সংশ্লিষ্ট রপ্তানিকারক প্রতিষ্ঠানের হালনাগাদ ট্রেড লাইসেন্স, ইআরসি, আয়কর সার্টিফিকেট, ভ্যাট সার্টিফিকেট, বিক্রয় চুক্তিপত্র, মৎস্য অধিদপ্তরের লাইসেন্সসহ সংশ্লিষ্ট দলিলাদি দাখিল করতে হবে।”
Translation: “The application must include updated trade license, ERC, income tax certificate, VAT certificate, sales agreement, license from the Department of Fisheries, and other relevant documents of the exporting company.”
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Minimum Export Price Fixed
The government has also set a minimum export price for hilsa.
The order stated:
“প্রতি কেজি ইলিশের ন্যূনতম রপ্তানি মূল্য সাড়ে ১২ মার্কিন ডলার নির্ধারণ করেছে সরকার।”
Translation: “The government has fixed the minimum export price of hilsa at $12.50 per kg.”
Exporters who had already applied earlier without official notice must now reapply with all updated documents.
Lower Quota Compared to Last Year
This year’s quota is half of last year’s. In 2024, the Ministry of Commerce had initially allowed 3,000 tons of hilsa export but later reduced it to 2,420 tons. In total, 49 exporters received approval then.
This year, only 1,200 tons have been approved for export.
Conditions Attached to Export
As in previous years, the export permission comes with strict conditions. Exporters are not allowed to ship more than the approved quantity, transfer the permission to others, or engage in subcontract-based exports.
The order clearly mentioned:
“সরকার যেকোনো সময় রপ্তানি বন্ধ করতে পারবে।”
Translation: “The government may stop the export at any time.”
These conditions are set to ensure transparency and compliance in the export process.
Source: Prothom Alo
