While the political turmoil in Bangladesh has cast a pall of gloom and concern in India, it has an unlikely collateral concern among a large section of gastronomes for a completely different reason – Indians, who used to savour Bangladeshi Hilsa are apprehensive that no consignment would arrive this year, depriving thousands of kitchen not only a fish but also a cultural ecstasy.
Importers to write soon
However, fish importers are yet to give up all hope as yet. Syed Anwar Maqsood, secretary of the Fish Importers’ Association, appeared downbeat when asked about the prospect of getting any Hilsa from the neighbouring country this year. “We are going to appeal to the interim government soon. What else could we do?” Maqsood told News9live.com. “It’s a critical hour for them and surely running the country takes precedence over everything else,” he said.
Glimmer of hope
However, Maqsood can spot a glimmer of hope. He said that Muhammad Yunus, who is supposed to head the interim government in Bangladesh has already told the media that he believes that India and Bangladesh can be great friends with a lot of common interests. “Hilsa from Padma is certainly one of the bonds that unite the people on both sides of the border,” said Maqsood.
Though Bangladesh has officially banned the export of Hilsa to India since 2012, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina used to send, as a goodwill gesture, fish from her country to India close to the festive season.
People wait eagerly every year
A large number of Indians, especially people from West Bengal, Assam and Tripura and the diaspora across India, wait eagerly for the consignment to arrive from Bangladesh. The arrival of Hilsa consignments from Bangladesh to India is a matter of wide media coverage in states such as West Bengal and Assam.
Hilsa diplomacy of Ms Hasina
In 2023, Ms Hasina’s administration sent almost 3,950 tonnes of Hilsa to India. But with the Awami League government gone and the relation between India and Bangladesh under a cloud with the new forces, it is unlikely whether any fish would reach India at all.
In 2022, about 2,450 tonnes of the fish was exported to India in September. The gifting of the coveted fish to India every year almost grew to be a token of diplomacy on the part of Bangladesh’s former prime minister.
The secretary of the Fish Importers’ Association in Kolkata is going to appeal to Muhammad Yunus, who is going to head the interim government in Bangladesh, not to stop exporting Hilsa to India. Biz News Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
