The price of hilsa shot up in the local market, influenced by demand for exports of the fish to India ahead of Durga puja, one of the biggest Hindu religious festivals, to be celebrated in the third week of October.

The price of hilsa in the southern region of the nation has increased by Tk 2,000 a maund (37 kilogrammes) after the government approved exports of the fish to India.

The government has decided to export Hilsa fish to India ahead of the country’s biggest religious festival Durga Puja scheduled to be celebrated next month.