Bangladesh Protests Disrupt Fish Trade, Incurring Crores in Losses for Howrah Market

Ongoing violence and protests in Bangladesh have severely impacted fish sales in Kolkata's Howrah fish market. Fish imports have dwindled, causing significant daily financial losses. The disruption has halted the special Hilsa fish trade for the upcoming Durga Puja festival, raising further concerns among traders.

The ongoing violence and protests in Bangladesh have immensely impacted fish sales at Kolkata's Howrah fish market on Thursday. According to officials, the usual influx of fish from Bangladesh has been significantly curtailed, causing heavy financial losses for local traders.

Import and export activities have ground to a halt over the past four to five days, resulting in daily losses estimated in crores. The halt includes the highly sought-after Hilsa fish. Syed Anwar Maqsood, Secretary of the Fish Importer's Association, noted a drastic decline in fish trade due to the unrest.

Speaking with ANI, Maqsood explained that the protests have stymied the market for the past month, affecting both exports and imports. Whereas 100 to 110 metric tonnes of fish were previously traded daily, the current situation has brought this to a standstill, leading to daily losses in lakhs of rupees.

During Durga Puja, the association typically secures permission to trade Hilsa fish, a prized catch. However, Maqsood expressed doubts about obtaining the necessary permissions this year. The Hilsa fish, cherished by Bengalis, is primarily sourced from the Padma river in Bangladesh and is distributed widely across India and even internationally.

The financial impact is severe, with an estimated loss of crores from the lack of trade. Maqsood remains hopeful for a normalization of conditions in the coming weeks as discussions with Bangladeshi counterparts continue. He emphasized the turbulence faced within the fish trade sector and highlighted the urgent need for resolution.

Maqsood called on the Indian Government to foster a positive relationship with Bangladesh's incoming government to help stabilize and revitalize the fish trade. The current turmoil has created significant uncertainty, especially with pending payments, making the situation precarious for traders.

(With inputs from agencies.)