First Hilsa consignment from Bangladesh reaches India, lowest export since 2019

The first consignment of Hilsa fish from Bangladesh reached West Bengal on Wednesday, though importers noted that this year’s quota is the lowest since 2019.

Bangladesh has permitted the export of 1,200 metric tonnes (MT) of Hilsa to India in 2025, compared with 2,420 MT last year. Eight trucks carrying around 32 MT of the prized fish crossed the Petrapole border in North 24 Parganas and will be available in Kolkata markets from Thursday.

“This year the Bangladesh government has allowed only 1,200 MT, the lowest since 2019,” said Syed Anwar Maqsood, secretary of the Fish Importers in Kolkata. “Given the short window until October 5, it is doubtful whether the entire consignment will reach West Bengal.”

In previous years, Bangladesh allowed significantly higher exports — 4,600 MT in 2021, 2,900 MT in 2022, and 3,950 MT in 2023. However, due to time constraints, only a fraction often reaches India. In 2024, for instance, just 577 MT of the permitted 2,420 MT arrived.

The Hilsa, celebrated as the “Queen of Fish,” is particularly sought after in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. Bangladeshi Hilsa, especially from the Padma River, is considered superior in taste to the Hooghly River variety.

With uncertainty over imports from Bangladesh this year amid strained bilateral relations, traders turned to Gujarat for supplies. More than 4,000 MT of Hilsa from Gujarat has already arrived, compared to the usual 500–700 MT annually.

While West Bengal’s own Hilsa catch has been declining in recent years due to overfishing, river pollution, siltation and erratic rainfall, good monsoon rains this year have boosted local production, according to the West Bengal United Fishermen Association.