Bangladesh government is likely to review ban on hilsa export after the fish are normally available in local markets this season, officials said. The scarcity of hilsa and subsequently its unusual price hike forced Bangladesh to restrict its export in 2012 for all countries, including India. Since the ban was imposed, India has been lobbying strongly to lift the ban on the silver fish, which has a very high demand in India particularly in the West Bengal. The possibility of lifting the ban is being explored, according to agreed minutes of the 10th meeting of a two-day India-Bangladesh Joint Working Group on Trade ended on June 9 in New Delhi. Upon India’s request for revision of the ban, Bangladesh delegation said that due to insufficient supply of fish and abnormal hike in price of the fish in the local market during last Ramadan, the ban was imposed on the export of all types of fish and it was withdrawn in September, 2012 except hilsa, the minutes read. Now the withdrawal of the ban from the export of hilsa is under consideration, it said. To pave the way for resuming hilsa export, the government had already relaxed hilsa export ban under a new export policy 2015-18 formulated in August, 2015. The new policy says the interested exporters need to seek approval from the Commerce Ministry prior to export hilsa. Traders and consumers, however, said the prices of hilsa might surge around 30% once the government lifts the ban. In July 2012, the government slapped ban on the dazzling silver fish to ensure its supply to local markets and rein in its prices. It declared hilsa the national fish of Bangladesh since the country gained independence in 1971. According to World Fish report published in October 2015, Bangladesh is the leading country in hilsa production, accounting for 65% of the total fish in the world followed by India 10%-15% and Myanmar 8%-10%. The remaining hilsa comes from other countries. The government initiated a project to conserve jatka (hilsa less than 10 inches long) in 2004, which has helped increase production at the rate of over 8% a year, said the report. The government restricted jatka and mother hilsa fishing in breeding zones Chandpur, Lakhipur, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong for eight months between November and June from 2007-08 season. According to the directorate of fisheries, Bangladesh has caught around four lakh tonnes of hilsa in 2015, up from 3.85 lakh tones in previous year. Bangladesh produced two lakh tonnes of hilsa in 2009-10. Hilsa researcher Anisur Rahman of Chandpur Fisheries Research Centre said hilsa production could be raised further if Bangladesh, India and Myanmar jointly ban hilsa fishing at the same time. It will help bring down the prices significantly and come back on the dining table of common people of the countries. According to the ministry of fisheries and livestock, hilsa makes up 1% of the country’s total gross domestic product and 11% of the country’s total fish production. A total of five lakh fishermen are directly involved with hilsa catching in the country. The livelihood of another 20 lakh people is indirectly involved with this fish.
2016 Dhyka Tribune