Benapole, Aug 3 (UNB) – President of Paschimbanga Fish Importers Association Atul Das has threatened to halt export of all kinds of fish from Paschimbanga if the recently imposed ban on hilsha export to his state from Bangladesh is not withdrawn immediately.

Talking to a group of Bangladeshi journalists at `no man’s land’ on the Benapole border on Thursday afternoon, he said the recent ban on export of delicious hilsha fish from Bangladesh has left a negative impact in Paschimbanga and other Indian states.

Das said they will halt export of Indian fishes such as rui, katla and other species to Bangladesh from Paschimbanga (West Bengal) if the ban on hilsha export is not withdrawn immediately.

When informed the ban is temporary and imposed to contain the soaring fish prices in Bangladesh during the holy month of Ramadan, the Paschimbanga Fish Importers Association leader said they will wait till Eid-ul-Fitr before taking a decision in the matter.

Joint Commissioner of Benapole Customs Akbar Hossain said the government stopped export of all kinds of fish to India until further orders in the wake of request by businessmen to increase the supply of fish and contain its prices during the Ramadan.

Following an official announcement, export of all kinds of fish, including hilsha, came to a halt through the Benapole border on Wednesday.     

Bangladesh’s hilsha of the Padma River has great demand in Paschimbanga (West Bengal). Other species of fish such as gazar and pangash have also demand in Delhi, Haryana and Kolkata.