By IANS,
Kolkata : In what could be bad news for Hilsa lovers in India, Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Golam Mohammad Kader Wednesday said his government will continue the ban on export of the silvery delicacy.
“Hilsa is loved as much in India as in Bangladesh. Because of the decline in the availability of the fish, the ban on its export will continue. I am not very sure if the ban will be lifted any soon,” Kader said on the sidelines of a programme here.
Bangladesh Sunday had lifted the ban on export of all kinds of fish except Hilsa, prompting lovers of the delicacy in India, particularly West Bengal, to hope the prohibition on the Hilsa too will be lifted. However, it was not to be.
“Like in Bengal, we too have the festive season approaching. Supply of the fish has been poor and we cannot deprive our people by exporting the fish,” added Kader.
Kader was in the city to inaugurate a Bangladeshi saree fair.
Earlier July 31, the government banned export of all kinds of sweet water fishes (white fish) and Hilsa to keep prices of fish at an affordable level during the holy month of Ramadan. Later, on August 5, the government extended the ban on Hilsa and white fish export except shrimp and Eel until further order.
Bangladesh produces about 3.1 million tonnes of fish, of which some 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes of sweet water fish are exported.