Dr. wants to strengthen relations with India by sending hilsa. Yunus
September 21, 2024Updated:September 21, 20243 Mins Read

Jumbangla Desk: The end of the long struggle. Bangladeshi hilsa will fall on the feet of the people of West Bengal during Durga Puja. Before Durga Puja, three thousand tons of hilsa are coming to the state of Bangladesh! News of Anandabazar newspaper.

The Ministry of Commerce of the Government of Bangladesh has issued a notification on Saturday. Three thousand tons of hilsa have been allowed to be sent to West Bengal.

Earlier, the Bangladesh government had said that hilsa would not be sent to other parts of Bengal during the Puja festival. Discussions have also started on why the decision was changed at the last moment. India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations in the effort to strengthen the change of opinion?

According to a section of diplomats, many questioned the decision not to send hilsa to India during the festive season. Which could affect the relationship between the two countries. That part thinks that Bangladesh government handled all aspects diplomatically in Saturday's decision.

But fish traders are reluctant to think about 'diplomacy' for now. Padma hilsa is coming to this country, the fish has to be delivered to Henshel in Bengali, for now the 'Fish Imports Association' of India is preparing its process.

According to the organization, Hilsa comes to Bengal every year on September 10 for the festival. It has not yet arrived this year. Fish Importers Association is happy that the Bangladesh government gave permission to send hilsa on Saturday. Secretary of the organization Syed Anwar Maqsud said, "Fish is coming for sure. A complication arose. Now that complication is over and Hilsa is coming. we are happy Padma hilsa will fall on Bengali leaves in Bengal during the festival season.''

Earlier, India's 'Fish Imports Association' had sent a letter to Bangladesh asking for hilsa. Bangladesh's fisheries advisor Farida Akhtar said to Anandabazar Online, expressing her grief on the subject of that letter, 'Happy New Year to the people of West Bengal. But we will not be able to send hilsa to Bengal this time and again by depriving the people of the country.'

But suddenly that decision was changed and the decision to send hilsa was announced. Is there a diplomatic reason behind this decision? Because, earlier the interim government of Muhammad Yunus had claimed, 'minor issues' like hilsa would not have any impact on Indo-Bangladesh diplomatic and economic relations. Yunus's government also requested to keep the export of potatoes and onions normal after importing eggs from India.

But after seeing the decision to send hilsa on Saturday, some of the diplomats think that the Yunus government has taken this step to improve the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Two days ago, the fisheries advisor said, 'Diplomatic relations with India will not be affected for hilsa. But the question of courtesy may arise in the minds of friends. That's why I'm thinking.' Dr. Yunus said, 'I will not spoil relations with India. They are our only neighboring countries with whom we share a border.''

A section of Bangladeshi diplomats also felt that not sending hilsa to India in the festive mood might show 'insolence'. It may also affect the Teesta water sharing agreement. It is believed that keeping all those 'diplomatic' reasons in mind, the Bangladesh government approved the shipment of 3,000 tons of hilsa before Puja.