A hilsa caught in the Meghna river in Bhola weighed two kilograms 75 grams. It was later sold at auction for Tk 8,200 at Tulatuli fish landing in Dhania union, Bhola Sadar upazila.

The fish was sold at about 10:30am on Wednesday (26 November) at the warehouse of Aslam Goldar at Tulatuli landing.

Wholesaler Aslam Goldar said fisherman Md Monir Majhi of Kachia union in Bhola Sadar and his companions were fishing for hilsa in the morning when the fish came up in their net in the Meghna, between Tulatuli and Madanpur. Locals call large hilsa "raja ilish" (king hilsa).

He said the fishermen brought it to the warehouse at around 10:30am. It was then auctioned openly in the presence of wholesalers, fish traders and retail buyers at Tulatuli. Md Jasim Bepari, a wholesaler at the landing, bought it with the top bid of Tk 8,200.

Jasim Bepari said large hilsa are in high demand at wholesale markets in Barishal and Dhaka, which is why he paid so much. He hopes to sell it for Tk 9,000 to Tk 9,500 at a wholesale market in Barishal or Dhaka.

Bhola district fisheries officer Md Iqbal Hossain said hilsa come from the sea into rivers to spawn throughout the year, but most spawning happens from October to November. This hilsa was coming up from the sea to spawn when it was caught in the fishermen's net.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.