Huge quantity of seized hilsa sold at nominal rate

Law enforcers check hilsa netted by fishermen in the Bay of Bengal yesterday. Inset, 4 fishermen being given on the spot punishment for catching fish in defiance of the government ban during the peak breeding period from Oct 15- 24. Photo: STAR

About 450 maunds of egg-carrying hilsha seized by the coastguard from the estuary of Meghna River near Chandpur town on Monday morning was sold in auction for only Tk 6.61 lakh following alleged secret understanding among the bidders.
The coastguard in a press release said price of the seized fish was about Tk 1.20 crore while Chandpur Sadar Upazila Fisheries Officer Amiya Ranjan Das, who received the fish in presence of a magistrate of the district administration Monday noon, said present market price of the fish could be Tk 40 lakh.
The huge amount of fish had to be sold quickly as it is a perishable item, said the fisheries officer, who also conducted the auction.
Hearing the news of auction, fish traders of Chandpur as well as a good number of leaders of local Jubo League and Chhatra League went to the spot and 61 people finally took part in the auction.
District Jubo League president and fish trader Mizanur Rahman Kalu, district Chhatra League general secretary Saidur Rahman Apu, district Fish Traders Association president's son Mizanur Rahman Jamadar, Babul Haji and Delu Miji received different amounts of fish as bid winners.
Mizanur Rahman bought about 100 maunds of fish for Tk 1.50 lakh. The market price of the fish is about Tk 6 to 7 lakh. Saidur Rahman bought another slot of about 100 maunds of fish for Tk 1.61 lakh.
The bidders offered low prices as there was a secret understanding to share the profit from selling the auctioned off fish, said a bidder wishing anonymity.
Defying a government ban on catching egg-carrying hilsa during the peak breeding period from October 15 to 24, a section of fishermen in different areas of southern districts have continued the mindless act.