Eight trucks of Bangladeshi ilish fish crossed over to India through the Benapole Land Port on Monday (Sept 30).
The first consignment amounts to an estimated 30 metric tons where the Bangladesh government has decided to export 500 tons of Ilish to India for the upcoming Durga Puja.
Assistant Commissioner of Immigration and Customs, Murshida Khatun, said trucks with the first batch of ilish delivery entered India through the Petrapole land port at 8:00pm following completion of all customs protocol.
This year ilish for India was set at $6 a kilo, though it is duty free under a limited bilateral agreement. While the first shipment was supposed to take place on Sunday (Sept 29), it was not possible due to minor delays in some administrative formalities.
Amy Enterprise Manager Mahitul Haque, fish exporter representative and C & F agent, said that on the occasion of Durga Puja, the Commerce Ministry has permitted some 500 tons of ilish export to India.
Ilish deliveries to India are expected to take place till Oct 10. Each shipment will export 30 metric tons of fish.
Export of the popular Hilsa or 'Ilish' fish from Bangladesh was banned in 2012 after local business establishments called for controlling the price of the fish.