The government on Wednesday allowed export of 500 tonnes of hilsa fish to India on the occasion of Durga Puja to be celebrated by Hindus in the first week of October. Commerce minister Tipu Munshi approved the export of one consignment of 500 tonnes of hilsa to West Bengal, India as a goodwill gesture on the occasion of Durga Puja,’ commerce ministry additional secretary (export) Tapan Kanti Ghosh told New Age. He said one of the exporters of Bangladesh would send up to 500 tonnes of hilsa in one consignment to one of the importers of West Bengal by October 10. Hilsa, the popular national fish of Bangladesh, is also popular in West Bengal. The government imposed a ban on hilsa export in 2012 to keep the prices of the delicious fish stable in the local market. Although the supply situation of hilsa in the local market is higher this year compared to last year, the prices of the fish remain high with general consumers struggling to purchase the fish. A 22-day ban on hilsa catching and selling will come into force on October 9 to ensure safe spawning of the fish during its peak breeding period.