Bangladesh begins hilsa exports to India with 37.5-tonne consignment ahead of Durga Puja

Bangladesh has exported its first batch of hilsa to India ahead of this year’s Durga Puja, sending 37.46 tonnes of the fish across the Benapole Land Port. Eight trucks carrying the consignment crossed into India in the wee hours of Tuesday to mark the start of seasonal exports approved by Dhaka for the festival. Although relations between the neighbours have been strained in recent times, Bangladesh's interim government has conditionally approved the export of 1,200 tonnes of hilsa to India -- especially popular among Bengalis in West Bengal -- for the Durga Puja festival. The minimum price has been fixed at $12.50 per kg, but no upper limit has been set by the government. A total of 37 companies have...