Dhaka, Sep 22 (V7N)- A legal notice has been issued by Supreme Court lawyer Mahmudul Hasan, calling for the immediate cessation of hilsa fish exports to India. The notice was sent on Sunday to the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Fisheries and Livestock, the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and the Chief Controller of the Import-Export Office.

The notice requests the government to halt exports within three days, warning that failure to do so will lead to legal action in the form of a writ petition being filed in the High Court.

Mahmudul Hasan expressed his frustration at the recent decision by the government to approve the export of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa to India for Durga Puja. He noted that the interim government had previously pledged to prioritise the domestic supply of hilsa before considering exports.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Commerce had approved the export, while on Sunday, Finance and Trade Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed defended the decision. He stated that the move was made at the highest level of government, citing the benefits of foreign currency earnings and the prevention of smuggling. He emphasised the friendly relations between Bangladesh and India as a factor in the decision.

The legal notice points out that India, with its extensive maritime boundaries, can produce its own hilsa. However, India continues to import hilsa from Bangladesh’s Padma River due to the popularity and taste of this variety. This, according to the lawyer, has resulted in limited availability of hilsa for the people of Bangladesh.

Furthermore, Mahmudul Hasan highlighted that under Bangladesh’s Export Policy 2021-24, hilsa is not categorised as a freely exportable item, reinforcing the legal grounds for his challenge.

With the increasing scarcity of hilsa in local markets, this legal notice has added to the ongoing debate about balancing export earnings with domestic supply.

END/MSS/AJ