Foreign Hilsa Sold as Local Fish in Bangladesh Markets

A fraudulent commercial practice has emerged in Bangladesh involving the import and misrepresentation of foreign hilsa fish as local catch. According to investigations by Bangla Tribune, hilsa fish originating from India and Myanmar are being imported into Bangladesh through the Benapole land port and other routes. While these marine products enter the country through official channels, their distribution at the retail level has sparked widespread consumer deception and market manipulation across local markets.

Official records from the Benapole land port Fisheries Quarantine Office detail the substantial volume of these shipments arriving in the country. Ashwadul Alam noted that a total of 3,52,787 kg of hilsa was imported through the Benapole land port during the first two months of the 2026-27 fiscal year. Specifically, the import quantity stood at 29,440 kg valued at 35,48,796 Taka in July, which escalated significantly to 3,23,346 kg valued at 6,57,45,714 Taka in August, bringing the declared import value for the two-month period to 6.92 crore Taka. Ashwadul Alam further explained that officials issue quarantine certificates only after thoroughly examining the fish.

Despite the official documentation, regulatory challenges persist regarding accurate cargo declarations. For instance, Benapole customs authorities seized 12 cartons, equating to approximately 360 kg, of undeclared Indian hilsa on July 22 after the shipment was falsely declared as white fish. Hafizur Rahman stated that these fish arrive from India and Myanmar via India, with claims that individuals named Kuddus from Bagachra and Zafar from Benapole are responsible for importing them, although the fish are imported legally through letters of credit (LCs). Rahman added that the influx of large quantities of Indian and Myanmar hilsa into the domestic market has inevitably impacted the market for local hilsa.

The financial margins driving this fraudulent trade are exceptionally high for dishonest traders. The imported hilsa incurs a total cost of approximately 514 Taka per kg, which includes both duty and transport expenses. However, unscrupulous traders sell these foreign fish in local markets for 1,400 to 1,800 Taka per kg. In stark contrast, authentic local hilsa of a similar size commands a much higher market price of 3,300 to 3,400 Taka per kg, creating a massive profit incentive for deception.

Consumers and local market participants are bearing the negative consequences of this sophisticated mislabeling scheme. Milan Hossain recounted buying a fish under the assumption it was local hilsa, only to realize after consumption that the taste and aroma differed from genuine local hilsa, noting that because the fish look nearly identical, it is difficult for general buyers to distinguish between foreign and local varieties. Abdul Jabbar observed that these fish are sold under false pretenses as hilsa originating variously from Chandpur, Barisal, or Chittagong, while actually being imported from India and Myanmar, leading to widespread consumer exploitation and a public demand for administrative legal action against the accused fish traders.

Furthermore, authentic local traders are facing severe economic repercussions as a result of the competition. Utsu Mondal, Babu, Mahabub, Mostafizur, and Paritosh Biswas collectively stated that the arrival of lower-priced, large-sized foreign hilsa in the market has caused sales of local hilsa to plummet. Because consumers opt for the foreign hilsa due to the price difference, genuine local hilsa traders have been left to confront mounting financial losses.