Chandpur: Prices of Hilsa have fallen slightly in the past few days as supplies increased at the fish landing centres and markets in Chandpur, although the fish remains beyond the reach of most ordinary consumers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, fishermen have reported that relatively fewer small-sized Hilsa are being caught in the rivers this year, with fish weighing 700 grams to one kilogram or more making up most of the catch. Fish traders noted that Hilsa is arriving at Chandpur's fish markets from the local Padma-Meghna rivers as well as from Bhola and Hatiya in the southern region. Despite previous arrivals of Indian Hilsa, fisheries officials confirmed that no such fish is currently being imported.
The information was gathered from visits to the town's largest fish landing centre at Boro Station and Harina fish market in Sadar upazila, where traders, fishermen, and leaders of the fishing community were interviewed. During a visit to Boro Station fish market, the bustling activity was evident as fishermen brought in fresh catches from the rivers, and aratdars (wholesale traders) auctioned the fish soon after they arrived.
Fisherman Amir Khan noted that a reasonable amount of fish had been available in the Padma-Meghna rivers recently, resulting in a slight fall in prices, allowing them to make some profit after covering fishing costs. Another fisherman, Md Hanif from Baharia area in Sadar, mentioned that small Hilsa were relatively scarce this year, with most of their daily catch weighing between 700 grams and more than one kilogram. He also observed an increase in Hilsa supplies over the past week.
Traders at the landing centres stated that locally sourced Padma-Meghna Hilsa weighing more than one kilogram is selling at Taka 2,700-Taka 2,800 per kilogram at retail markets. Fish weighing 800-900 grams are priced at Taka 2,200-Taka 2,300, while 500-gram Hilsa is around Taka 1,500 and 300-400-gram fish at Taka 1,200 per kilogram. Hilsa from Bhola and Hatiya is comparatively cheaper, with prices ranging from Taka 2,200 per kilogram for one-kilogram fish to Taka 800-Taka 1,000 per kilogram for smaller Hilsa.
Md Jahangir Hossain Soyal, a Hilsa seller at Harina fish market, mentioned that prices had declined slightly due to increased supplies, with around 200-250 maunds of fresh Hilsa being sold daily. Consumers have expressed relief over the lower prices, with local buyers like Tutul Majumder and private-sector employees Ibrahim Hossain and Hafiz Uddin purchasing larger quantities due to the reduced costs.
Chandpur Fish Traders Association General Secretary Sabe Barat Sarkar noted that 500-600 maunds of Hilsa were traded daily at the fish landing centre until recently. However, the volume has decreased to 200-250 maunds over the past two days. Association President Abdul Bari Jamadar Manik confirmed that Hilsa supplies remained good, keeping market prices relatively stable, attracting buyers from different sections of society.
Chandpur Sadar Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Mirza Omar Faruk stated that Indian Hilsa had arrived in Chandpur in several consignments but is no longer coming in. He added that supplies of locally caught Hilsa have increased, maintaining the supply chain.