CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, Sept 14: The Hilsa season is gradually coming to an end, yet prices remain alarmingly high across both wholesale and retail markets at Char Fasson Upazila in Bhola District.
For lower-income families, Hilsa is proving to be a luxury rather than a staple this season.
Bhola, the island district known as "Home of Hilsa," is surrounded by the Meghna and Tentulia rivers, which serve as key sanctuaries for the prized fish. As the season nears its close, Hilsa has finally begun to appear in fishing nets, but prices haven't seen a significant drop.
According to local fishermen, the catch from the Meghna and Tentulia rivers has not been sufficient to bring down prices.
Fish traders echo this, stating that even during the peak season, the volume of hilsa caught has been below expectations.
They say fishermen are yet to recover their investment costs and prices will likely drop only after their demands are met.
Retailers add that Hilsa is being caught in lower quantities compared to previous years, hence the persistently high prices.
Mamun Majhi, a resident of Char Madraj Union at Char Fasson, expressed his frustration, "Even in the Hilsa season, we can't afford to eat Hilsa. Prices are nearly double compared to previous years. It's just not affordable anymore, so I haven't bought any and I don't plan to."
Fishery officials say that if supply increases, prices might come down somewhat.
However, starting from October 4, a 22-day nationwide ban on hilsa fishing will be enforced to protect the spawning season.
After this period, the Hilsa that return tend to lose their fat and flavour, making now the prime time for consumption.
Hoping to taste Hilsa before the ban, many middle- and low-income shoppers are heading to local markets-only to be turned away by the high prices.
Despite decent supply in some areas, prices remain far from affordable.
Samraj Fish Landing Station at Char Fasson remains crowded with buyers in both mornings and evenings.
Mintu Das, a medical technician from Neuron Diagnostic Lab, visited the market to buy hilsa. He was quoted Tk 700 per kg for small hilsa, Tk 1,000 for medium-sized ones (under 1kg) and Tk 1,200 or more per kg for hilsa weighing over 1kg.
Frustrated by the prices, he said, "Looks like I won't be able to have hilsa this year either."
Another shopper, Nazrul Kabir, a college teacher, asked a vendor why prices remained high even during peak season. The seller responded irritably, "If the wholesale price is high, what can I do?"
August to October is considered Hilsa season in Bangladesh. However, due to a lack of rain until mid-September, the fish did not migrate in the expected number.
Rainfall in late September has slightly increased the Hilsa catch in recent days.
Despite challenges, Bhola's Senior Fisheries Officer Mehedi Hasan Bhuiyan expressed optimism, stating that hilsa production in Bhola's seven upazilas is on track to meet the target of 180,000 metric tons.
"Water levels and rainfall have recently increased and fishermen are now catching Hilsa. We're hopeful we'll meet our target," he said.
Addressing the high prices, Char Fasson's Senior Fisheries Officer Jayanta Kumar Apu said rising fuel costs and overall inflation have impacted prices, though he claimed the increase is not excessive.
"Currently, one-kilogram hilsa is selling for around Tk 1,300. If prices fall any further, fishermen and traders could incur losses," he noted.
With just 20 days left before the fishing ban, only a large catch could bring down prices and allow ordinary consumers to enjoy hilsa. Otherwise, the season will end with many disappointed.
Anwar Patwary, a fish trader at Samraj Fish Landing Station, said, "Supply is low, but demand is high. That's why prices are elevated. Our sales have dropped as buyers are simply walking away due to unaffordable prices."
Aziz Patwary, leader of Char Fasson Fish Landing Center Owners' Association, echoed the concern, saying, "The number of Hilsa in the rivers has been low for several days, so imports are down. With a recent low-pressure weather system, many fishermen were unable to go to sea. Now that the weather has improved, they're returning to work. Once they bring in their catch, we expect prices to fall. However, higher fuel costs are also pushing up fish prices."
Tanbir Ahmed, Upazila Marine Fisheries Officer, confirmed that once sea-caught Hilsa starts reaching the markets, prices will decrease.
He also mentioned that market inspections are going on and any reports of overpricing will result in strict action.
