Hilsa From Bangladesh Arrives In Bengal, Why Is This Fish Special?

Last Updated:September 18, 2025, 12:03 IST

While the arrival of fresh Hilsa excites food lovers, prices are making many buyers wince. Compared with last year, costs have climbed 30 to 40 percent.

From Padma River Nets to Kolkata Markets: How Bangladeshi Hilsa Reaches Puja Kitchens

Bengal’s favourite festive fish has crossed the border once again. Five more trucks carrying 25 tons of prized Hilsa reached India through the Petrapole port on Wednesday, following an earlier shipment of 12 tons that rolled in Tuesday night.

Boxes were ceremonially opened at the border in the presence of Sikdar Mohammad Ashraful Rahman, Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, and Kamlesh Saini, Manager of the Land Port Authority of India. Neither offered formal comments, but their presence signalled the friendly ties behind this annual cross-border tradition.

Friendship on a Platter

Bangladesh officially began Hilsa exports on Tuesday after its Ministry of Commerce issued a notification permitting shipments until October 5 under the country’s 2024–27 export policy. Thirty-seven Bangladeshi companies have secured the coveted permits.

This year’s supply is timed to coincide with Durga Puja, when Bengali households consider Hilsa a must-have delicacy. Traders say the fish will move quickly from the border to wholesale markets in Kolkata before being distributed across West Bengal and to other Indian states where the community celebrates the festival.

A Cultural and Culinary Icon

Hilsa is far more than a meal in Bengal, it is a symbol of festivity and nostalgia. Families plan Ranna Pujo, the ceremonial cooking ahead of Durga Puja, around traditional dishes like shorshe ilish, where the fish is steamed in mustard paste, or the slow-cooked paturi wrapped in banana leaves.

Many Bengalis see the arrival of Hilsa from the Padma and Meghna rivers as the unofficial start of the festive season. Even with rising prices, the fish holds an emotional place that few other foods can match.

While the arrival of fresh Hilsa excites food lovers, prices are making many buyers wince. Compared with last year, costs have climbed 30 to 40 percent. A two-kilogram fish now sells for about Rs 4,100, a one-kilogram fish for around Rs 2,600, and smaller catches of 500–600 grams fetch roughly Rs 1,500 per kilogram.

Traders point to higher demand, fuel costs, and limits on the export window as reasons for the spike. Even the smaller sizes remain steep, putting the fish beyond the reach of many ordinary households.

Why Prices Stay High

Experts also note that Hilsa stocks fluctuate with river conditions and climate change. Lower freshwater flow in Bangladesh’s rivers, combined with erratic monsoons, affects spawning and supply.

These factors, coupled with the short export period, keep prices elevated despite the new shipments. Wholesalers predict that rates are unlikely to ease before the festival ends.

Ranna Pujo without Hilsa is unthinkable for many families, and this year’s arrivals will still draw long lines at fish markets from Kolkata to Siliguri. Yet the shimmering delicacy is turning into a luxury for the middle class.

For those willing to splurge, the sight of fresh silver fish on the dining table remains the ultimate Durga Puja indulgence, a taste of tradition that no price seems able to dull.

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More

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