As Durga Puja beckons, hilsa lovers in India are in for a treat. That’s because the Bangladesh government on Wednesday gave permission to traders to sell nearly 3,950 metric tons of the special Padma Hilsa to India ahead of the festival.
Generally, since 2012 Bangladesh has not been exporting hilsa. But during Durga Puja, Sheikh Hasina’s government sends hilsa (or Ilish, in Bengali) to India as a “gift”.
The hilsa from the Padma river in Bangladesh is prized by connoisseurs, and, therefore, is always in high demand.
Speaking to News18, Syed Anwar Maqsood, secretary of the Fish Importers Association, said, “It’s great news that this time we can give Bengalis their favourite Padma Hilsa during Puja. Since 2019, they have been giving us hilsa during Puja. The only problem is the time frame. They have given us only a month’s time to bring over 3,950 metric tons of hilsa. We have requested that if they can extend the time, we can bring over the entire amount. Bengalis consider the hilsa to be the ‘silver queen’ in cuisine. Therefore, it has a high demand.”
The hilsa comes into West Bengal from Bangladesh through the Petrapole border via Bongaon.
With the arrival of the hilsa beginning on Thursday in Bengal, demand has already started rising. Samaresh Chatterjee, a resident of Gariahat area of Kolkata, told News18, “It’s a big bonus for us around Puja. Hilsa is the favourite delicacy for Bengalis. I have planned to buy 2 kg and will go to the market on Thursday itself.”
Rangana Mukherjee, from Kolkata’s Salt Lake locality, said, “I have asked my husband to bring the Padma Hilsa. Hope more hilsa means a drop in price.”
Generally, 1 kg of hilsa costs around Rs 1,000 in Kolkata. If it’s Padma Hilsa, the price may be higher. But that will not stop lakhs of Bengalis from thronging the markets to bag this Puja gift.
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