Tutul controls the hilsa market in Barisal while sitting in India
October 4, 20243 Mins Read
Khan Rafiq: The Awami League government fell on August 5 due to the student movement. Nirav Hossain Tutul, Industry and Commerce Secretary of Barisal Metropolitan Awami League left for India on the same day. Although physically in India, Barisal is under the control of this Awami League leader. Sitting there, he has held the fisheries sector hostage. It is known that he has to export hilsa to India on the occasion of upcoming Durga Puja through his five licenses.

Rafik

Traders complain that although the government price of hilsa export is 1 thousand 190 taka per kg, LC size (900 grams) hilsa is being bought from Barisal for 1 thousand 700 taka. India sits and shakes these kalkathis.

Nripendra Nath Biswas, deputy director of the Department of Fisheries, said, 'It is not known where it comes from. We have no control over this.' In spite of the official price of Tk 1,190, the exporters said that it is unusual to buy hilsa per kg from Barisal at Tk 1,700.

The fish landing center of the city has been visited, and Hilsa has grown in abundance. 500 to 600 maunds of hilsa are sold daily at this location. Mokam businessman Nasir Uddin said, 'On Tuesday (yesterday), LC size hilsa was sold for Tk 1,700 per kg. One kilogram of hilsa is 1 thousand 850 taka and 1 thousand 200 grams of hilsa is 1 thousand 950 taka per kg. It is not known how to buy fish at a high price and export it at a low price.'

Local fish traders said that exportable hilsa is also being LC done by Tuttle's company. His followers stockpiled a lot of hilsa for export. Hilsa is being exported against Tutul's five licenses. These are Nahian Enterprises, Mahima Enterprises, AR Enterprises, Tanisha Enterprises and Masfi Enterprises.

Several fish traders in Port Road complained that the price of fish has increased due to the violence of Tutul people. In the past, due to the influence of Tutul-Sadiq, fishermen were forced to sell hilsa at low prices, the arrival of hilsa boats at Barisal Port Road has reduced to a large extent. Under his rule, other traders could not export hilsa. They said Tutul is the accused in the case of burning the office of Barisal Nagar BNP. But he is controlling the hilsa business sitting in India.

On inquiry, it is known that Tutul is carrying on fishing business through his uncle Babar Sikdar. In this context, Babar said that this year too, the government has given the opportunity to export hilsa against the five licenses of Tutul. Tutul's WhatsApp number was called multiple times to inquire about these issues, but his response was not received.

Nirab Hossain Tutul. Photo: Collected
Mohammad Rakit Ali, a fish trader of exporter Seven Star Group, told reporters that the price of fish in Bangladesh is high due to competition. They are exporting hilsa to India at a loss to maintain business relations.

The manager of an exporting company in India, who did not want to be named, said that hilsa is exported through Hundi. Everyone knows this unethical practice. But don't bring it under control.

Barisal Fisheries Department Officer (Hilsha) Bimal Chandra Das said that about 20 tons of hilsa have been exported from Barisal so far. Source: Today's newspaper