Prime Minister to decide on hilsa shipment to India

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will make the final call on whether to send hilsa to India for the upcoming Pahela Baishakh, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid announced today.

Speaking at a press conference for ‘Jatka Conservation Week-2026’ at the Secretariat, the Minister clarified that while the government does not officially export the national fish, shipments are occasionally sent as a gesture of courtesy.

"The head of government will decide if this tradition continues this year," the Minister said. National Jatka Conservation Week Starts April 7 The Minister also detailed the upcoming Jatka Conservation Week, running from April 7 to April 13. The program aims to protect juvenile hilsa (jatka) to ensure future stocks. Key details include:

Coverage 20 districts across Bangladesh. The inaugural ceremony will be held in Chandpur. Strict surveillance will span from sea catchments to local markets to prevent the harvesting, sale, and stockpiling of jatka.

Minister Rashid emphasized that increasing production is the government's priority to make hilsa more affordable for citizens.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, added that food aid and support for fishermen would be increased during the conservation period. He warned that any irregularities in aid distribution would face zero tolerance.