Hilsa of Padma
Politics of hilsa: Rumours, silence and reality
In October 2025, just before Durga Puja, the price of a one-kilogram hilsa rose to around Tk2,900 at Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar. Yet the fisherman who spends night after night casting his net in the Meghna estuary often cannot afford to put even a piece of hilsa on his own children’s plates for months on end.
Take legal action against those breaching hilsa fishing ban
By protecting mother hilsa, the production of hilsa in Bangladesh has been steadily increasing each year. Today, hilsa has become a national asset, contributing 1% to our GDP. In the fiscal year 2023-24, 571,000 tons of hilsa were caught, generating around three billion takas in foreign currency through exports. The significant increase in hilsa production in Bangladesh is largely attributed to the ban on fishing mother hilsa during a specific period each year.
Would Hilsa 'grace' Kolkata's Durga Puja this year?
The autumn clouds indicate that Durga Puja is knocking the doors. Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the year for Hindus, will be held across West Bengal in October. Marking the occasion, everyone will forget the 'differences' and enjoy the festival. Padma hilsa from Bangladesh adds extra flavor to this festival of Bengali Hindus in Kolkata every year. However, there is a possibility that there will not be enough hilsa for Durga Puja this year. Now the question has arisen, will there be hilsa for Durga Puja?