Hilsa supply starts in a limited scale

Supply of hilsa from the Barishal wholesale market to Dhaka has started in a limited scale.

On Friday morning, 1,600kg of hilsa were sent to different fish markets in the capital from Barishal Port Road Wholesale Hilsa Market, confirmed suppliers.

Now, the amount of everyday supply is almost like this, said Badsha Mia, a supervisor at the market.

He said demand for the national fish is usually high at this time. But at the beginning of "stricter lockdown", there was no supply. However, from the third day, a small amount of hilsa is being supplied to Dhaka markets, he said.

Meanwhile, prices have risen by at least fifty percent.

Badsha Mia said a hilsa weighing 1kg is being sold at Tk 1,500 while those weighing 800 grammes at Tk 1,000. They used to be sold at Tk 1,000 and Tk 600-700 respectively.

Usually, at least 300-400 maunds of hilsa are sent to Dhaka by five to six transport carriers on a daily basis. Now only 40 maunds are being sent, said Badsha.

Nirab Hossain Tutul, secretary of Barishal Port Road Matsya Aratdar Samity, said fishing at the hilsa sanctuaries has been banned for two months. Apart from this, due to the "lockdown", the fish is being supplied from the local rivers that are out of the purview of the sanctuary.

As a result, prices went up, said Nirab. Presently, hilsa is being caught from several rivers in Bhola, he added.

Meanwhile, many workers were seen sitting idle at the hilsa market as they had no work amid the ongoing "lockdown".

They said they are involved with loading and unloading of fish. When there is a huge supply, they make up to Tk 500-800 per day. Although some were able to find work during the last two days, most of the workers are sitting idle.

Contacted, Bimal Chandra Das, fisheries officer (hilsa) in Barishal, said fishing at the sanctuaries has been banned from March 1 to April 30 to save the national fish. At present, fishers are being fined for fishing in those rivers such as the Meghna.

Anisur Rahman Talukder, deputy director, Department of Fisheries in Barishal, said at present, the supply is low due to their strict vigilance to protect the mother fish. It will increase once the ban has been lifted, he added.