A source at the Commerce Ministry said the matter of exporting hilsa to India for the Puja is being considered positively. However, the quantity of hilsa to be exported has not yet been determined.

Already, 18 Bangladeshi organisations have applied for permission to export hilsa to India. These applications will be sent to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock for scrutiny.

Commerce Secretary Ataur Rahman Khan said the letter from Indian businessmen has been received. The decision on how much hilsa will be exported will be taken after discussions with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

Indian businessmen claim that Bangladesh has been granting special permission to export a limited quantity of hilsa for Durga Puja since 2019. This time, they have requested that permission be granted before the scheduled time.

According to data, in recent years, actual hilsa exports to India have been far lower than the approved quantity. Last time, against an export permit of 1,200 tonnes, only 150 tonnes of hilsa went to India.