A Supreme Court lawyer has issued a legal notice seeking to set the retail price of hilsa fish at a maximum of 700 BDT per kilogram for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh. On Sunday, September 29, the notice was sent via email and postal service to the Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Chairman of the Bangladesh Competition Commission, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue, and the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports. The lawyer behind this notice is Khandaker Hasan Shahriar.
The notice calls for market monitoring of wholesale and retail prices of hilsa within the next seven days. It also urges the government to take effective measures to prevent the illegal smuggling of hilsa across borders and to propose a synchronized ban on hilsa fishing with India, taking into account realities such as rising sea temperatures and climate change.
Additionally, the notice requests that future exports of hilsa fish be priced higher than the domestic market rates. Failure to comply with these demands may result in legal action being taken at the High Court.
Lawyer Khandaker Hasan Shahriar also cited media reports stating that, starting from September 26, hilsa is being exported to India through the Benapole land port at a rate of $10 USD (approximately 1,180 BDT) per kilogram, in celebration of the Sharadiya Durga Puja. However, Bangladeshi consumers are paying at least 900 BDT more per kilogram for the same fish in local markets. The lawyer pointed out that the existing export circular for hilsa was created several years ago, and under Bangladesh’s Export Policy 2021-24, hilsa is not freely exportable. Strict conditions must be met for its export, and the export price should have been set higher than the domestic market price.
Shahriar further questioned how the export price of hilsa to India could be 1,180 BDT per kilogram, while Bangladeshi consumers are paying between 1,900 and 2,400 BDT in local markets. He argued that this discrepancy has caused Bangladesh to lose significant foreign exchange earnings. The notice recipients, he stated, have demonstrated gross negligence, causing harm to both the state and its citizens.
When asked about the proposal to set the price of hilsa at 700 BDT per kilogram, Shahriar explained that hilsa, Bangladesh’s national fish, primarily comes from the Bay of Bengal. He noted that India and Myanmar have much larger maritime boundaries and produce significant quantities of hilsa. Moreover, hilsa is found in various rivers across India. Although hilsa originates from the sea, it gains nourishment from natural food in the Padma River during its breeding season. Since the fish comes from the sea and travels via river or road transport, Shahriar argued that the price should not exceed 700 BDT, factoring in all related costs.
