The National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate has run a drive in Chandpur to bring the hilsa market under control. The operation took place around midday on 24 August at the Boro Station fish landing, Chandpur's largest hilsa landing centre.

It was led by Abdullah Al Imran, assistant director of the directorate's Chandpur district office. Papers of all hilsa traders present at the landing were checked and traders were given verbal warnings. Farhana Akter Ruma, an official of the district fisheries office, and members of the law enforcement agencies assisted.

Those involved said the main aim was to curb unreasonable price rises in the hilsa market, protect buyers' interests and ensure traders' transparency.

Buyers complained, however, that hilsa prices did not fall despite the drive. Local buyers alleged that although there is enough hilsa in the market, traders are not lowering prices, citing a "shortage of fish". As a result ordinary people cannot buy hilsa at the prices they expected.

Assistant director Abdullah Al Imran said: "We are monitoring the market regularly. We spoke to wholesalers, retailers and buyers at the landing, and learned that the excessive price rise is mainly due to a shortage of fish."

He added that the main purpose of the visit was to see whether any irregularities were taking place. If traders deliberately keep prices out of control or create an artificial shortage, strict legal action will be taken against them, he said.

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