Mir Afroz Zaman
POBNEWS24 DHAKA, SEPT 26, 2026 : Bangladeshi hilsa occupies a special place in the taste of Bengalis of West Bengal whenever Durga Puja comes. Fish markets from Kolkata to North and South 24 Parganas await this silver fish of Padma-Meghna. But this time, there is a big change in that familiar picture. Although Durga Puja is only a few weeks away, no government permission has been given to export hilsa from Bangladesh to India yet. As a result, there is uncertainty about whether Bangladeshi hilsa will be available to the Bengalis of West Bengal during the 2026 Puja.
What is more significant is that this year, Bangladesh, which sends a limited amount of hilsa to India before the Puja every year, received hilsa from India. In July and August, information has been received that 3 lakh 52 thousand 786 kg of hilsa was imported from India to Bangladesh. Indian traders claim that due to the shortage of Hilsa supply in Bangladesh, Hilsa has also been sent to Bangladesh from Howrah and Gujarat this time.
According to the data on the export of Hilsa in Bangladesh, the government does not actually allow the entire amount of export to India. In 2019, 400 tons were exported after the permission of 500 tons; in 2020, 532 tons were exported against the permission of 1,850 tons. In 2021, 1,200 tons were exported against the permission of 4,600 tons and in 2022, 1,300 tons were exported against the permission of 2,900 tons. Although 3,950 tons were allowed in 2023, about 631 tons were exported. Although there are some differences in the numbers in various government and commercial statistics-based reports, the trend of actual exports being lower than the approval is clear.
The same picture is seen in 2024 as well. Although the decision to export 3,000 tons of Hilsa was initially announced on the occasion of Durga Puja, the Ministry of Commerce finally allowed 2,420 tons. Later, according to the Commerce Ministry sources, only 577 tons of the authorized 2,420 tons were exported to India. That is, almost one-fourth of the authorized quantity was actually exported. In 2025, the permitted quantity was further reduced to 1,200 metric tons. But until the last day of export on October 5, only 107 tons (226 kg) of hilsa were exported to India. That is, less than 10 percent of the authorized quantity.
The picture is even more uncertain in the current year 2026. Durga Puja in 2026 is from October 17 to 21, according to the West Bengal government’s puja calendar, Mahasashti is October 17 and Vijaya Dashami is October 21. However, as of September 26, no announcement has been received from the Bangladesh government regarding permission to export hilsa to India on the occasion of Durga Puja.
Rather, the Kolkata-based Fish Importers Association has written to the Bangladesh government’s Commerce Minister seeking permission to export hilsa. The organization has also demanded that hilsa be allowed to be imported not only for puja, but also in the long term.
In the context of this application by Indian importers, Bangladesh’s decision is now the main issue. It is not possible to legally export any amount of hilsa from Bangladesh to India until permission is obtained.
Why is there more uncertainty this time? Bangladeshi hilsa traders say, firstly, the supply and market situation of hilsa in the country. There has been talk of a shortage of hilsa in the Bangladeshi market this season and hilsa has been imported from India to meet that shortage.
Secondly, hilsa exports to Bangladesh are not ordinary regular exports; It is a conditionally exportable product and has to be exported subject to government approval. In the 2025 government notification, in addition to taking a policy decision to export 1,200 metric tons, the minimum export price of hilsa was set at US$12.50 per kg.
Third, the strained relations between Bangladesh and India after the political changes of August 5, 2024 have also affected the commercial environment of the two countries. However, political relations alone cannot be blamed as the reason for the decline in hilsa exports because supply, government approval, price, time frame and the capacity of exporters must also be taken into account.
So the question in the Kolkata market is the same. The separate demand for hilsa in the West Bengal market is clear from the application of Indian traders this time too. But even if there is demand, supply does not ensure supply. Bangladeshi hilsa will reach the puja market only after all the steps of permission from the Bangladesh government, preparation of exporters, quick clearance at the border port and delivery of the consignment within the stipulated time are completed.
And there is not much time. The main phase of Durga Puja 2026 will begin on October 17. As a result, even if permission is given now, the export activities will have to be completed quickly to capture the Puja market.
Another exceptional event this year is the presence of Indian hilsa in the Bangladesh market. Information has been received that a total of more than 3.5 lakh kg of hilsa entered through Benapole in July and August. Later, in September, the Department of Fisheries canceled 103 no-objection certificates for hilsa import from India.
In other words, the conventional picture of hilsa trade between the two countries has changed a lot this time. On the one hand, traders in Kolkata are looking for Bangladeshi hilsa, on the other hand, Indian hilsa has entered the Bangladeshi market, and even recently, that import has been stopped.
Will the decision change at the last minute? Sources in the Bangladesh Commerce Ministry say that the most important question at the moment is whether the Bangladesh government will finally allow a limited amount of hilsa to be sent to India before Puja?
The answer is not certain until government permission is received. However, past experience shows that even if permission is obtained, there is no guarantee that the entire declared amount will reach India. In 2024, 577 tons were exported against the permission of 2,420 tons, and in 2025, only 107 tons and 226 kg were exported against the permission of 1,200 tons.
As a result, the real picture this time is that there is demand from Bengalis in West Bengal, Indian traders have formally applied; but the permission of the Bangladesh government is not yet available. And even if permission is granted, there is no guarantee that the entire approved quantity will reach the Kolkata market according to past statistics.
Therefore, whether Bangladeshi hilsa will reach the feet of Bengalis in West Bengal during Durga Puja in 2026 or not is still awaiting a decision. However, as time goes by, the time required for Bangladeshi hilsa to reach the puja market regularly and in large quantities is getting shorter.
