How Ban On One Fish Describes Tension Between India - Bangladesh (image: screengrab of video @rajualam)
This one fish is used as a tool of diplomacy to foster ties with its western neighbour in Bangladesh. Hilsa is the national fish of Bangladesh. Locally known as ilish, the fish is cherished as the queen among fish. It is an identity of both Bangladesh and the bordering Indian state of West Bengal.
The fish is found in Bay of Bengal, and in rivers. Reportedly, the fish was used as a tool of diplomacy by former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.
When Bangladesh’s interim government decided to briefly ban the exports of the fish to India in September, it caused a culinary crisis of sort ahead of the festival of Durga Puja in India. The fish cooked in mustard sauce is a popular dish during the festival.
The move from Bangladesh was taken as a diplomatic stand off by many, an answer for India’s backing of Sheikh Hasina, who has taken shelter in India after fleeing in last August.
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Bangladesh said the ban was aimed at reducing the cost of freshwater fish domestically amidst a comparatively narrow harvest this year. The ban was reversed in two weeks.
70 percent of the world’s Hilsa is being exported from Bangladesh. The fish is increasingly becoming rare and expensive, owing to overfishing, increased demand and environmental challenges like climate change. Fishermen also say that they struggle to catch the adequate amount of the fish due to rough sea conditions. The exports also adds to its scarcity.
Most of the Bangladeshis find the fish unaffordable. In 2024, 1.5 kg of hilsa fish reached about $15 (1,800 Bangladeshi taka) in local markets, compared with about $10.9 (1,300 taka) last year.
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Over 550,000 to 600,000 tonnes a year, the hilsa fish contributes to 12 percent of Bangladesh’s total fish production. The fish exports support approximately 500,000 fishers directly and two million people in related industries.
Ban on the fish’s export to West Bengal was explained as a method to cut down on the staggering price domestically.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribunes, Farida Akhter, adviser to the Bangladesh Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock said that, “We cannot allow ilish to be exported while our own people cannot buy them. This year, I have instructed the Ministry of Commerce to prevent any ilish exports to India during Durga Puja”.
The Commerce Ministry of the country later reversed the ban and approved 3,000 tonnes shipment to India. Reportedly, the government also failed in bringing down the prices.
