Online Desk  :  Bangladesh has so far exported 479 tonnes of hilsa to India marking Durga Puja, the chief religious festival of the neigbouring country’s largest Hindu community, through Benapole land port. The export started through the country’s largest land port with a 54.46-tonne consignment on 26 September, and India has so far received 479 tonnes over the past 13 days. The government set a price of $10 (equivalent to Tk1,180) for per kilogram of hilsa exports.

Visiting Benapole Fishery Market, this correspondent found per kilogram of hilsa weighing under one kilogram was selling at Tk1,300. The Hilsa weighing over one kg was priced Tk1,800-Tk2,000 – Tk600 to 800 more than the export price. Asked about the low price of the exported hilsa, Mahbubur Rahman, an official at Fisheries Inspection and Quality Control Centre of Benapole land port, said the circular on hilsa export was issued a few years ago, but now the export price of hilsa can be adjusted in line with the domestic market price.

Masudur Rahman, revenue official at the Check-post Cargo Section of the land port, said seven trucks entered India carrying 22 tonnes of hilsa on Wednesday night. With this India has received 479 tonnes of hilsa from Bangladesh through Benapole land port in 10 consignments since 26 September, he said.