Dhaka Times Desk Bengali traditional hilsa fish has started to be caught again. Hilsa is seen in Shahbazpur channel of Bhola.
It is to be noted that due to the recent famine of Hilsa, Bengalis seem to have forgotten to eat Hilsa. But suddenly in the last two days some hilsa have started to be caught in Meghna Shahbazpur channel of Bhola. As the export of hilsa to India has stopped, the price has also come down a bit as the hilsa from Meghna has also started coming to Bhola market. Even 4 days ago, the price of the fish was 1500 to 2000 taka. The hilsa of about one kg size is now being sold at the price of Tk 800. In previous years, hilsa of that size was sold at the price of only 400 to 500 taka.
Meanwhile, at this time of the month of Ramadan, the demand for fish is also decreasing due to the rise of hilsa in the market. The pressure on locally farmed fish is also decreasing. Large-sized tilapia is currently being sold in the market at Tk 180 to Tk 200 per kg. Katal is being sold at the price of two and a half rupees. Meanwhile, the secretary of Daulatkhan Chowkighat Fish Traders Association said that the mixture of fresh water with salt water has increased due to the continuous rains of the last few days. And because of this environment, hilsa has also started to emerge. They think that this atmosphere will remain till the full moon. Now a fisherman is getting fish by 3-4 hauls in a boat. Before this, 3 hilsa were not caught in the jail net even during the whole day. In the last two days, some hilsa has been caught, so relief has returned to the fishing village. Due to the catch of Hilsa, there has been an increase in other shops in the city including the river area. People have started buying hilsa fish in the markets. Fishermen are also busy throwing nets in the river, forgetting to eat and drink. Fearing that Meghna's hilsa will run out at any time, fishermen have also started a competition over who will cast their nets first. Minor skirmishes over netting also occur daily.
Meanwhile, Dadan businessmen said that at least two hundred crore rupees are invested for hilsa fishing in Meghna and Sagar estuary, including Charfashion's Dhalchar from Rajapur Ilisha in Bhola district, Charnijam in Manpura. District Fisheries Officer Preetish Kumar Mallik said that every year hilsa fish worth Tk 250 million is caught from this region. Which fulfills the needs of the country and outside the country. According to the sources of Arat traders, Bhola hilsa used to go to India every year through Barisal. This year also started the process. At present, hilsa is being sold more in the domestic market as the direct export of fish is stopped. On the other hand, the retail fish seller said that the hilsa fish from the fish ghats of the Middle Meghna are not being brought to the local market at the rate expected due to the direct launch of hilsa fish to Dhaka. Representatives of traders in Dhaka are buying hilsa from the middle of the river.
Fish traders selling by ferry including Dhaka market were also seen selling hilsa fish on August 1. That hasn't happened in the past few months. Hilsa complaints have reduced and therefore the sellers are quite happy. During the inspection on August 1, hilsa was found to be sold in Kawran Bazar, New Market, Mohammadpur Town Hall Market of the capital. Small hilsa was seen being sold at the Bhashantech pocket gate. Although the price was a bit high. However, at the rate at which hilsa has started to be caught, everyone thinks that the price of hilsa will come within reach within a couple of days.
But in any case, Bengalis breathed a sigh of relief at the news of hilsa. Especially when Ramadan comes, the problem of hilsa crisis is more common among the poor people of the country. Now everyone has hope again. People also welcomed the government's decision to stop the export of hilsa.
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