Legal notice to stop export of Hilsa

A legal notice was sent to the government bodies concerned on Sunday, demanding all necessary steps to stop export of Hilsa fish to India permanently - within seven days from the date of receiving the notice.
Md Mahmudul Islam, a Supreme Court lawyer, sent the notice. He also warned the government bodies that he would file a writ petition, if the respondents would not take appropriate measures in this regard.
The notice was sent to the commerce secretary, fisheries and livestock secretary, foreign affairs secretary, civil aviation secretary, chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), chief controller of imports and exports, and chairman of the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation.
The lawyer, in his notice, said, "Hilsa is the national fish of Bangladesh. But due to excessive price of the fish, the poor people and even the middle-class people cannot afford to buy it."
"The average price of Hilsa is Tk 1,000-1,200 per kg in the local market; and the price of Hilsa, captured from the Padma River, is Tk 1,200-1,500 or more per kg. On the other hand, the export price of Hilsa to India is below the local market price."
"Unfortunately, the government allowed export of Hilsa to India on September 4. Due to the export, its price is increasing in the local market day by day. Even in the export policy of 2021-2024, the fish is not a freely exportable item."
"The government is making total injustice and violating the fundamental rights of people of Bangladesh by exporting Hilsa to India at a price much lower than its price in the country, denying demand of the people," the notice also read.

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