With the Centre clearing the import of fish from Bangladesh through the Dawki Land Customs Station, a new trade gateway has formally opened along the Indo-Bangladesh border — one that promises quicker access, lower prices and fresher supply for consumers across Meghalaya and the wider Northeast. The decision, centred on Dawki, is expected to recalibrate long-standing supply routes that have so far depended heavily on distant states and alternate border points, often pushing up costs and raising concerns over quality. However, the transformation now hinges on how swiftly Indian importers step forward to operationalise the route and convert policy clearance into market reality.
“We have received permission to import fishes through our land custom station. All necessary paper works have been completed. We are now awaiting importers from India to take advantage of this landmark decision,” Regional Coordinator (Dawki) Land Port Authority of India, TC Chacko said.
With the clearance in place, all varieties of fish are now permitted for import through Dawki, except live fishes and Hilsa. Bangladesh has restricted export of Hilsa to India to meet its domestic market demand, allowing shipments only during special occasions such as Durga Puja and other festivals.
Chacko said the decision would ensure that prices of fishes would be much more affordable in Shillong and Guwahati markets and elsewhere in the region, once importers come forward to take advantage of this decision. “The exporters from Bangladesh are excited over the development,” Chacko said.
Currently, a bulk of the fishes consumed in the Northeast comes from Andhra Pradesh. Some of the fishes also come from Bangladesh through the Agartala Land Customs Station. The transportation takes about two to three days from Andhra Pradesh and almost a day from Agartala to reach the Shillong and Guwahati markets.
Chacko said from Dawki it would take about three hours to reach Shillong market (Dawki-Shillong 84 km) and another two to three hours to reach Guwahahati. “This means the fish prices would come down largely due to low transportation cost and also will be relatively fresher,” Chacko said.
On several occasions, fishes in Northeast markets were found to be unhealthy and laced with formaldehyde, a highly carcinogenic chemical used for preservation. “The fishes from Bangladesh would undergo regular checks when they are exported and imported,” Chacko said.
“We are expecting importers from Assam and Meghalaya to take advantage of this positive development, so that the consumers of the northeast would benefit” he said.
