**Fishy Diplomacy: What the Hilsa Ban Unveils About India-Bangladesh Tensions**

A temporary ban on the export of hilsa, once used as a d
iplomatic tool by former PM Hasina, has sparked diplomatic tensions and stirred a culinary crisis.

Soaring prices and limited supply have made hilsa, a beloved staple, inaccessible to much of Bangladesh’s population [File: A M Ahad/AP Photo].

**Hilsa: The Fish at the Heart of India-Bangladesh Diplomacy**

Hilsa, Bangladesh’s national fish, is locally known as ilish and revered as the "queen of fish." It holds a special place in the culinary heritage of both Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina famously used this fish, found in the Bay of Bengal and its rivers, as a diplomatic gesture to strengthen ties with India.

However, in September, Bangladesh’s interim government imposed a brief ban on hilsa exports to India, just before the Durga Puja festival, a time when hilsa is a delicacy. This move caused diplomatic friction, as some viewed it as a subtle reprimand to India for its backing of Hasina, who fled to India after being ousted in August.

The official reason for the ban was to ease domestic prices amid a lean harvest, but it was quickly reversed, with 3,000 tonnes of hilsa approved for export to India. The price of hilsa had skyrocketed, with a 1.5kg fish costing about $15 in 2024, making it unaffordable for many in Bangladesh. While Bangladesh exports 70% of the world's hilsa, overfishing, rising demand, and environmental factors like climate change have made it rarer and more expensive.

Hilsa contributes around 12% of Bangladesh’s annual fish production and supports 500,000 fishers. Despite its economic importance, the fish is deeply embedded in local culture, featured in dishes like shorshe ilish (hilsa in mustard sauce) and ilish polao (pilaf rice with hilsa).

This isn't the first hilsa-related export ban. In 2012, Bangladesh halted hilsa exports to India over a water-sharing dispute, lifting the ban in 2018 as a goodwill gesture. Hasina, during her tenure, often gifted hilsa to India during Durga Puja to maintain diplomatic warmth.

The recent ban, however brief, signals a potential shift in Bangladesh's foreign policy, with the interim government taking a harder stance compared to Hasina’s pro-India approach.**Hilsa: The Fish at the Heart of India-Bangladesh Diplomacy**

Hilsa, Bangladesh’s national fish, is locally known as ilish and revered as the "queen of fish." It holds a special place in the culinary heritage of both Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina famously used this fish, found in the Bay of Bengal and its rivers, as a diplomatic gesture to strengthen ties with India.

However, in September, Bangladesh’s interim government imposed a brief ban on hilsa exports to India, just before the Durga Puja festival, a time when hilsa is a delicacy. This move caused diplomatic friction, as some viewed it as a subtle reprimand to India for its backing of Hasina, who fled to India after being ousted in August.

The official reason for the ban was to ease domestic prices amid a lean harvest, but it was quickly reversed, with 3,000 tonnes of hilsa approved for export to India. The price of hilsa had skyrocketed, with a 1.5kg fish costing about $15 in 2024, making it unaffordable for many in Bangladesh. While Bangladesh exports 70% of the world's hilsa, overfishing, rising demand, and environmental factors like climate change have made it rarer and more expensive.

Hilsa contributes around 12% of Bangladesh’s annual fish production and supports 500,000 fishers. Despite its economic importance, the fish is deeply embedded in local culture, featured in dishes like shorshe ilish (hilsa in mustard sauce) and ilish polao (pilaf rice with hilsa).

This isn't the first hilsa-related export ban. In 2012, Bangladesh halted hilsa exports to India over a water-sharing dispute, lifting the ban in 2018 as a goodwill gesture. Hasina, during her tenure, often gifted hilsa to India during Durga Puja to maintain diplomatic warmth.

The recent ban, however brief, signals a potential shift in Bangladesh's foreign policy, with the interim government taking a harder stance compared to Hasina’s pro-India approach.