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Hilsa may disappear from Indian cuisine this year.
The supply of shad in the Padma River may be disrupted this year. This has left many fish traders in West Bengal feeling disappointed and desperate.
Be it “Ilish Paturi” or “Shorshe Ilish”, these dishes are delicacies of Bengali cuisine. Ilish, also known as Hilsa fish, is imported from India's neighbor Bangladesh, which is currently facing political unrest, leading Sheikh Hasina to resign as prime minister and flee the country, only seeking asylum in New Delhi, India. Therefore, Hilsa is unlikely to be imported into the Indian market this year.
The supply of shad from the Padma River is likely to be disrupted this year, leaving many fishmongers in West Bengal feeling disappointed and desperate. Generally speaking, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sends imported Hilsa to India from August to October every year as a show of goodwill. But this year, the political situation in the country may impose restrictions, leaving India with almost no Hilsa supply.
Generally, Padma Hilsa is in high demand during the monsoon season in Bangladesh. These fish are mainly a favorite among Indian Bengalis who love to serve them with rice. It is during this period that fishmongers make their most profitable sales. But due to military rule in Bangladesh, imports and exports between the two countries have stopped, meaning business has dropped for Indian fish traders.
Bangladesh has stopped exports of Hilsa fish since 2012 to ensure its country's needs are met first. They also stopped catching small shad. Sheikh Hasina sent Bengali's favorite fish to India as a gift due to her good relations with India. It will reach West Bengal from Bangladesh via Petrapol border via Bangaon and then supplied to various parts of the country where fish is in demand.
According to the Economic Times, just last year during the Durga Puja festival, Sheikh Hasina allowed Bangladeshi fish traders to sell about 3,950 tons of Padma Hilsa to India. But sadly, it may disappear from Indian cuisine this year.
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