The second consignment of 63 metric tons of Puja Special Hilsa has been sent to India through Benapole port.
On Tuesday (September 15) afternoon, the consignment of Hilsa in 8 trucks entered the Indian port of Petrapole after customs and port formalities. Earlier, 12 metric tonnes of hilsa was exported to India in two trucks in the first consignment on September 14.
Shamim Hossain, Assistant Revenue Officer, Benapole Customs, said the hilsa was being exported to India at a duty-free rate of 10 dollar per kg.
It is learned that the government stopped exporting hilsa after 2012 due to the decline in hilsa production in the country. However, 500 tonnes of hilsa was exported to West Bengal, India last year on the occasion of Durga Puja to enhance friendship and good relations with neighboring country.
Following this, the Bangladesh government allowed the export of 1450 metric tons of hilsa to West Bengal, India on the occasion of Durga Puja this year as well. Nine Bangladeshi exporters have got the opportunity to export hilsa. According to the conditions of the Ministry of Commerce, the remaining hilsa has to be exported by October 10 next month.