Hilsa shortage in Chandpur, price tripled

Borastation Fish Ghat, one of the country's main hilsa landing centers located at the estuary of the Padma-Meghna and Dakatia rivers in Chandpur, is facing an extreme crisis. The supply of hilsa has been gradually decreasing since January last year, which has now almost reached its lowest point. Even during the peak hilsa season, the desired amount of hilsa has not been caught in this area.

According to fishermen, the Padma-Meghna is not seeing the same number of hilsa as before. This has directly affected the Barastation Fish Ghat. On the one hand, the supply of hilsa has decreased alarmingly, on the other hand, the price has increased several times. As a result, shopkeepers and traders are facing a buyer crisis.

Especially, although there is no hilsa season at present, in previous years, the Barastation Fish Ghat used to have a daily supply of approximately 150 to 200 maunds of hilsa. But this time, that picture has completely changed. Currently, the daily supply is not even reaching 20 maunds, which is rare in the history of this fish ghat.

Due to the decrease in supply, the price of hilsa has also gone beyond the reach of the common people. Currently, a 1 kg hilsa is being sold in the market for 4,000 to 4,500 taka. As medium and small hilsa are also being sold at high prices, common consumers are turning away from buying hilsa.

Sumon Rahman, who came to buy hilsa, said that although hilsa is a popular fish, it is now becoming unpopular due to its price. The price of hilsa is so high that it is not possible to buy it according to your choice or need at the big station fish market. The price of hilsa, which used to be medium-sized hilsa, is now not available at the same price. The price of hilsa has gone beyond the reach of the common people.

Hilsa trader Mansur Ahmen Mahin said that sales are decreasing due to the high price of hilsa, resulting in losses in the store. In addition, since there is no fish in the river, fishermen are not getting the desired hilsa even after casting their nets. The price is mainly high because less hilsa is coming to the market. In the current market, hilsa weighing one kg is sold for 4,000 to 4,500 taka. And hilsa weighing less than one kilogram is sold for 3,500 taka to 3,800 taka. And small-sized hilsa is being sold for 2,000 taka.

Another businessman, Bijoy Sarkar, said that there is almost no sale of hilsa in the off-season. At the fish market, hilsa is also less expensive and the price is higher. Due to which, even if buyers come to the market, they leave without buying. We, the traders, want the supply of hilsa to increase, and the price to be within reach.