Md. Monir Hossain:
Due to natural disasters and persistent adverse weather, fish imports in Chandpur, one of the largest hilsa destinations in the country, have decreased significantly. Due to rough waves, gusty winds and adverse weather in the river for a few days, most fishermen have not been able to go fishing. As a result, the price of hilsa has increased several times due to the decrease in the supply of hilsa in the market. Currently, one kilogram of hilsa is being sold for about 3,200 taka per kg. Traders hope that when the weather normalizes, fishermen will be able to go down to the river again, which will increase the supply of hilsa and the price will also decrease slightly.
This information was obtained by visiting the fish landing center of the big station in Chandpur city and talking to traders and shopkeepers adjacent to the Harina ferry ghat in Sadar upazila on Tuesday (July 21) night.
Local traders said that the import of hilsa is much less than usual at present. Due to limited supply of fish at the ghat, prices have increased in both the wholesale and retail markets. Especially, the demand for large-sized hilsa is high, but due to lack of supply, buyers are having to pay higher prices.
Jasim Uddin, a businessman at Harina fish ghat, said that although there are 24 fish traders at the ghat, the import of fish is very low at present. Only about two maunds of large-sized hilsa have arrived throughout the day. Due to this low supply, hilsa weighing one kilogram has been sold at Tk 3,200 per kg.
He further said that hilsa weighing 800 to 900 grams has been sold at Tk 2,800 per kg. On the other hand, small-sized hilsa, where six to seven together make one kg, was priced at Tk 700 to 800 per kg. Due to the shortage of large fish in the market, many buyers are being forced to buy small-sized hilsa.
Haji Shabe Barat Sarkar, general secretary of Chandpur Matsya Banik Samabay Samity, said that about 20 maunds of hilsa were imported throughout the day at the Big Station Fish Landing Center on Tuesday. Even less fish has arrived in the last week. This situation has arisen because fishermen are unable to enter the river due to adverse weather conditions.
He said that when the weather becomes favorable, fishermen will be able to fish in the river again. Then, it is expected that the import of hilsa will increase, the supply in the market will be normal and the price will gradually decrease.
Regarding the wholesale market price, he said that hilsa weighing one kilogram was sold for 1 lakh 15 thousand to 1 lakh 20 thousand taka per kilogram. The price of hilsa weighing 800 to 900 grams was 90 thousand to 95 thousand taka per kilogram. And the price of hilsa weighing three together is 1 kilogram – such a size was sold for 42 thousand to 45 thousand taka per kilogram.
Abdul Bari Jamadar Manik, president of the Chandpur Matsya Banik Samabay Samity, said that currently the import of hilsa is very low. The price of hilsa in the market has increased abnormally due to the supply crisis. However, this is a temporary situation. When the weather becomes normal, fishermen will enter the river, fish production and supply will increase and the market will also return to its previous state.
Those concerned say that natural disasters and adverse weather conditions pose a big challenge for fishermen during the monsoon season. If the river does not have a favorable fishing environment, the supply of hilsa decreases, which directly affects the market. As a result, consumers have to buy hilsa at a higher price. However, those concerned expect that the supply of hilsa in the market may increase in the next few days if the weather normalizes.
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