Bangladesh Halts Hilsa Fish Imports From India

The Department of Fisheries of Bangladesh has halted hilsa fish imports from India through the Benapole land port. Acting Director General Md Khaled Kanak signed the order on September 22, which immediately cancelled 103 no-objection certificates required for the trade.

Traders report the abrupt ban will lead to severe financial losses, as fish already purchased and stored in warehouses across the border must be sold back at lower prices. In the two months preceding the ban, approximately 352,786kg of hilsa, valued at Tk 6.43 crore, entered Bangladesh through the Benapole port.

The decision follows a decline in domestic hilsa production, which fell 5.5% in fiscal 2024-25 to five lakh tonnes. Officials attribute this decrease to pollution, the use of illegal nets, and overfishing.