Bangladesh Protests Impact Fish Sales in Kolkata’s Howrah Market
The ongoing protests in Bangladesh have significantly affected fish sales in Kolkata’s Howrah fish market. Due to the unrest, fish imports from Bangladesh have decreased, causing substantial losses for fish traders in Kolkata.
Impact on Fish Trade
Syed Anwar Maqsood, Secretary of the Fish Importer’s Association, explained that the protests have disrupted the import and export of fish for the past month. Previously, around 100 to 110 metric tons of fish were exchanged daily between India and Bangladesh. However, the current situation has halted this trade, resulting in daily losses of lakhs of rupees.
Hilsa Fish and Durga Puja
Hilsa fish, a favorite among Bengalis, is particularly affected. During Durga Puja, special permission is usually granted for Hilsa fish imports from Bangladesh. However, due to the current unrest, this permission may not be granted this year, impacting the supply of Hilsa fish to various Indian cities and even internationally.
Financial Losses
The disruption in fish trade has led to significant financial losses. Maqsood estimated that the cost of 200 metric tons of fish, which includes both imports and exports, amounts to crores of rupees in losses.
Future Outlook
Maqsood expressed hope that the situation would normalize in the coming weeks. He mentioned ongoing discussions with counterparts in Bangladesh and emphasized the importance of good relations between the Indian and Bangladeshi governments to facilitate smooth business operations.
Doubts Revealed
Bangladesh -: Bangladesh is a country located to the east of India. It shares a border with the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
Protests -: Protests are when people gather to show that they are unhappy about something. They might carry signs, shout slogans, or march in the streets.
Kolkata -: Kolkata is a big city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is known for its rich culture, history, and as a major trade center.
Howrah Market -: Howrah Market is a famous market in Kolkata, known for selling a variety of goods, including fish. It is located near the Howrah Bridge.
Fish Imports -: Fish imports mean bringing fish from one country into another. In this case, it means bringing fish from Bangladesh to India.
Syed Anwar Maqsood -: Syed Anwar Maqsood is the Secretary of the Fish Importer’s Association. He helps manage and represent the people who import fish.
Fish Importer’s Association -: The Fish Importer’s Association is a group of people who work together to import fish. They help each other and solve problems related to fish importing.
Hilsa Fish -: Hilsa fish is a type of fish that is very popular in Bengal, especially during festivals like Durga Puja. It is known for its delicious taste.
Durga Puja -: Durga Puja is a big festival in India, especially in West Bengal. It celebrates the goddess Durga and includes lots of celebrations, food, and cultural events.
Lakhs of Rupees -: Lakhs of rupees means hundreds of thousands of rupees. It is a large amount of money in Indian currency.
Normalization -: Normalization means things going back to normal or becoming stable again. In this context, it means fish sales and imports returning to usual levels.
