The delectable Hilsa fish, renowned for its taste, has flooded the wholesale and retail markets of the capital city following the end of a 65-day fishing ban in the sea.
While the reopening of Hilsa fishing has boosted supply, the soaring prices continue to put it out of reach for middle and lower-income individuals.
Additionally, the scarcity of larger-sized Hilsa remains a pressing concern, driving prices higher in source markets and retail outlets.
The Directorate of Fisheries imposed a comprehensive fishing ban in the sea last May 20 to conserve and facilitate fish breeding. However, on July 24, all types of fishing, including Hilsa fishing, resumed operations after the mandated period.
Retailers said as the price of Hilsa remains high in the source markets including Chandpur, Barguna, and Chattogram, they are forced to sell it at a higher price at the consumer end. They said the catch of Hilsa in the sea and rivers remain much lesser than the demand.
Despite the increased availability, the cost of Hilsa in the retail market of the capital remains exorbitant. Larger Hilsa, weighing between 1 to 2 kilograms, are being sold at a staggering Tk 1,500-1,700 per kilogram, while smaller ones, ranging from 400 to 800 grams, are priced at Tk 600-1,200 per kilogram. The fish markets in Segunbagicha and Mugda revealed that the majority of Hilsa being traded are under 800 grams, leading to a shortage of larger-sized Hilsa.
Jalal Uddin, a retailer in the Segunbagicha market, expressed the challenges faced by sellers due to the dearth of larger Hilsa and the subsequent reluctance of customers to purchase them at high prices.
He emphasised that reduced purchasing power and changing consumer preferences have impacted sales.
According to data from the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), the price of Hilsa has remained consistently high, with 1-2 kg size fish being sold at Tk 1,400-1,600 per kilogram at the Fakirapul kitchen market. Despite passing a week of lifting the fishing ban, the price has not seen any change.
The Department of Fisheries reports that Hilsa constitutes nearly half of the total fish production from the sea, amounting to 3.21 lakh tonnes out of the annual 7 lakh tonnes.
A significant 57 per cent of the country’s Hilsa production originates from the sea, with the remainder sourced from various rivers. This highlights the critical role of sea fishing in maintaining the Hilsa supply.
Rice, oil, prices remain stable, and eggs, chicken see a hike
Amidst the ongoing economic situation, while prices of several other consumer goods and food items like rice, edible oil, sugar, flour, and vegetables have remained stable, the prices of farm eggs and broiler chicken have experienced a noticeable surge.
Within a week, the price of farm eggs escalated by Tk 10 per dozen, reaching Tk 150 per dozen at retail markets.
Similarly, broiler-breed chicken is now being sold at Tk 190-200 per kilogram, up from Tk 170-175 per kilogram just a week ago.
Beef prices decrease slightly
Conversely, beef prices have slightly decreased by Tk 20-30 per kilogram in various kitchen markets, now being sold at Tk 750-780 per kilogram compared to Tk 780-800 per kilogram a week earlier. The surge in cattle availability and farmers’ reduction in meat prices contributed to this decline. Sellers, on the one hand, said because of less sacrifice during this Eid-ul-Azha, there are more cattle in the market and the price of cattle is a little lower now.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Dairy Farmers’ Association on July 30 announced to reduce the price of beef by Tk 50 per kg. The announcement lowered beef prices by Tk 20-30 per kg in retail markets compared to before.
