Country exported 3,915 tonnes of hilsha last six months

Bangladesh exported 3,915 tonnes of hilsha fish and 30,431 tonnes of shrimp in first six months of current fiscal year, said Fisheries Minister Abdul Latif Biswas yesterday. “Last six months' trend shows, this year shrimp export would set a new record.”
Biswas made the comments while replying to a question from ruling-party member Kamal Ahmed Majumder in Jatiya Sangsad during a question-answer session.
Biswas said the government took 19 development projects and two revenue budget projects for development of fishery resources. The projects helped increasing fish production in the country.
He said the government provided 30-kg rice a month to 1,66,740 fishermen last year to refrain them from fishing during fish-breeding period.
Replying to a question from another treasury bench member Sanjida Khanam, the minister said Bangladesh exports shrimp in European countries, USA and Japan that are major importers of shrimp. While hilsha fishes were exported mainly to India, UK and Middle East countries.
He said Bangladesh earned Tk 2,825 crore in 2009-10 by exporting 51,599 tonnes of shrimp and Tk 124 crore from hilsha export.