Threatens West Bengal business body
Paschimbanga Fish Importers Association has threatened to halt exports of all kinds of fish if Bangladesh’s ban on hilsa export to West Bengal is not withdrawn immediately.
Atul Das, the association president, said the recent ban on hilsa export from Bangladesh has cast a negative impact on Paschimbanga (West Bengal) and other Indian states.
He also said they will halt export of Indian fishes such as rui, katla and other species to Bangladesh if the ban is not withdrawn immediately.
Das was talking to a group of Bangladeshi journalists at no-man’s land in Benapole border area on Thursday afternoon.
After being informed that the ban is temporary and was imposed to contain the soaring fish prices in Bangladesh during Ramadan, the association chief said they will wait till Eid-ul-Fitr before taking any conclusive decision on the matter.
Akbar Hossain, joint commissioner of Benapole customs, said the government has stopped exporting all kinds of fish to India in a bid to increase supply in local market and contain their prices during Ramadan.
Following an official announcement, export of all kinds of fish including hilsa came to a halt through the Benapole border on Wednesday.
Bangladesh’s hilsa from the Padma River has a great demand in West Bengal.
-With UNB/The Daily Star input
