Following the end of the hilsa fishing ban on Friday, the supply of hilsa in the market has increased and the price has decreased slightly. However, traders claim that sales of hilsa have fallen by half.
Meanwhile, buyers said that hilsa is still unaffordable for many. The recent political strikes have affected the income of many and they are struggling to afford hilsa and other daily essentials.
During a visit to a kitchen market in the capital on Sunday noon, this correspondent found four traders selling small and medium-sized hilsa. They said that they had been unable to sell even half of their fish since morning.
Medium-sized hilsa were being sold at Tk 1,400-1,600 per kg, down from Tk 1,600-1,800 per kg before the ban. Small-size hilsa weighing less than one kg were being sold at Tk 750-1,100 per kg, down from Tk 800-1,300. Large-size hilsa is rarely available in the market and was being sold at Tk 1,500-2,200 per kg.
Alamgir Hossain, a buyer at the capital’s Mugda market, stated that although hilsa fish is available in the market, it is unaffordable for people with low incomes.
“It would cause a budget shortfall for the month if I were to purchase it. So I refrain from buying it even if I desire to,” he said.
Akbar Hossain, a fish seller at Khilgaon market, mentioned that the supply of hilsa fish has slightly increased after the ban, but the demand still exceeds the supply. Despite this, half of the fish remains unsold due to its high price.
“Furthermore, many people’s income has decreased recently due to political unrest, and they are unable to afford luxury fish like hilsa. We cannot sell hilsa fish at a lower price because the wholesale market price is high,” the seller added.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries, hilsa fishing resumed in the country’s rivers on Friday after a 22-day ban. The ban was imposed from midnight on October 11 to November 2. Since the ban lifted the supply of hilsa fish in the market increased.
