In the letter, Indian traders said that although they had been importing Bangladeshi hilsa through Benapole and Akhaura land ports since 1996, their business came to a halt after exports were banned in July 2012. They claim that although hilsa was later exported under special permission for a limited period on the occasion of Durga Puja, it was not enough.

Abu Maksud, general secretary of the organization, said Bangladeshi hilsa is extremely popular among the people of Kolkata. Therefore, an appeal has been made to the Bangladesh government to lift the long-standing ban and allow regular hilsa exports.