Sellers at a wholesale market in Chandpur asked Tk 24,000 for two pairs of hilsha. Later, after bargaining a buyer managed to purchase two pairs of hilsha, each weighing 2kg at the rate of Tk 2500 per kg, for a total of Tk 20,000.
UNB correspondent visiting the wholesale market at Boro Station Fish Ghat found that it offers hilsha of various size and weight.
Meanwhile, District Fisheries Officer Asadul Baki informed that every day at least five thousand maunds (1 maund= 40 kg) of hilsha are being purchased and sold at the wholesale market.
However, as the hilsha fish is much-coveted, it’s price always remains high. Now, the price of 900-gram hilsha is around Tk 1050. Price of 1-kg hilsha of Padma is Tk 1300-1500.
On the other hand, a one and a half kg hilsha is being sold at Tk 1700-1800 while 2 kg -2.3 kg hilsha is on sale at Tk 2200 per kg at the district’s biggest and busiest fishing ghat as well as Horina fish ghat in Sadar.
Sellers said a 2.5 kg hilsha is being sold at Tk 2200/2300. However, buyers informed that if anyone purchased 4/5 hilsha of Padma river, then it can be purchased on an average Tk 2000 each. Sellers Rabiul Islam and Sajib Mia echoed the same information.
Dr Anisur Rahman, renowned hilsha expert of Fisheries Research Institute, Chandpur, told UNB that “ the taste of Padma hilsha is really unique as during cooking its aroma spread all over the house. The taste of hilsha of this river is special because of its physical structure and health condition due to sweet water of Padma and also for its varied intake.”
Besides, he said, this year big-sized hilsha is available due to creation of law-abiding culture among the fishermen, eliminating ‘jatka’, barring fishing of egg-bearing hilsha and also due to successful implementation of safe sanctuary programme.
“Many of us are eager to buy big-sized hilsha but we don’t have ability to purchase those. So we the low-income people cannot afford to purchase the delicious fish and only stare at the fish in the market,” a buyer lamented.
Meanwhile, critics raised questions about the price of hilsha saying “why its price is not coming down despite huge supply. Then is it that the fish is being smuggled out to India?”