Prices of Hilsa have gone beyond the reach of common people as supply did not increase even in the peak season.
During visits to different kitchen markets in the city, this correspondent found that a Hilsa weighing less than one kilogram was selling at Tk 1,200 and those weighing 600-700gm were retiling at Tk 700-800 per piece.
“We are not getting sufficient quantity of Hilsa from the wholesalers. So, we are now selling other fish. We are still hopeful of getting plenty of Hilsa in the next few days,” said Mirazul, a fish trader at Bashundhara Kitchen Market in the city.
Gani Miah, another trader at Merul Badda Wholesale Market in the city, said the supply of Hilsa was poor this year despite a peak season.”
“Supply of this fish was four times higher during this same period last year. The supply situation doesn’t seem very good this year,” he said.
Malek Miah, another wholesaler at the same market, said for lack of import, hundreds of Hilsa traders are now unemployed.
Hilsa netting was less than the expected this year in the coastal areas, pushing hundreds of fishermen into misery this year, sources said.
Sahidul Islam, a fisherman in a coastal area of Noakhali, managed to catch only two Hilsa fishes (weighing about 500 grams) after netting in the Meghna River for three to four days.
Hundreds of fishermen in coastal regions such as Hatia, Nijhum Island, Sonadia, Ramgati, Tazimuddin and Alexander faced the same situation.
There are allegations that though fishermen were not getting plenty of Hilsa fish, they are still being attacked by pirates.
Many fishermen don’t dare to go to the deep sea for fishing for fear of pirates.
