A lawyer has issued a legal notice demanding a halt to the Ministry of Commerce’s approval for the export of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa fish to India for the upcoming Durga Puja festival.
Supreme Court Advocate Md Mahmudul Hasan sent the notice on Sunday, naming the commerce secretary, fisheries and water resources secretary, chairman of the National Board of Revenue, and chief controller of the Office of Imports and Exports as respondents.
The Ministry of Commerce approved the export on Saturday, just two weeks before the major Hindu festival. Mahmudul’s notice states that hilsa is available in various countries, including Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar, and that India has a long coastline where hilsa is produced. Therefore, he argues, there is no need for India to import hilsa from Bangladesh, yet it continues to do so primarily from the Padma River in Bangladesh.
The notice alleges that Indian agents and fish exporters in Bangladesh collect hilsa from the Padma River year-round and export it to India with government permission, and in some cases, engage in illegal smuggling across the border.
It also claims that due to these exports and smuggling, Bangladeshi consumers are unable to find Padma River hilsa in local markets and are forced to buy sea hilsa, which is less flavorful.
According to Bangladesh’s export policy for 2021-24, hilsa is not freely exportable. Mahmudul contends that the Ministry of Commerce’s decision contradicts the interests of the Bangladeshi people by permitting the export of hilsa to India.
The notice requests that authorities take necessary steps to stop the export of hilsa to India within three days of receipt, warning that a writ case will be filed in the High Court if action is not taken.
