This is due to Bangladesh, the greatest fish producer in the world, tightening its regulations on the export of hilsa to India, a neighboring country, and prohibiting its movement.
According to Farida Akhter, an advisor to the Bangladeshi ministry of fisheries and livestock, the redoubled effort was made to make sure that the highly valued fish remained more accessible to Bangladeshi consumers a month after a new government took office in Dhaka.
“Despite the ban, a lot of fish is still being exported from Bangladesh to India.” We won’t permit the hilsa to pass the border this time,” she said.
During Durga Puja, the previous administration would relax the restriction. It was once referred to be a gift. This time, I don’t think it’s necessary to give a present since, if we do, our people won’t be able to consume the fish while it’s still legal to ship huge quantities of it to India, Ms. Akhter stated.
This stance is a stark contrast to the well-known “hilsa diplomacy” that deposed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina practiced with India, during which she frequently permitted the transportation of fish consignments to India during the festival season.
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, has received hilsa several times from Hasina. In an effort to settle a protracted water issue, she also gave 30 kg of hilsa to it.