News of hilsa exports to India has pushed up prices by Tk 200-300 a kg at the wholesale hilsa market in Chandpur, and retail prices have followed. The tasty fish remains beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Hilsa prices in Chandpur have been high throughout the season, and the announcement of exports to India has added fuel to the rising prices. After exports of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa to India were announced, prices went up at the Boro Station fish landing in Chandpur, one of the country's largest wholesale hilsa markets.

Hilsa trader Kamal Hossain said: "The hilsa season is almost over, and there is little hilsa in the market. For the few days left in this season, there is no chance of prices falling. Prices have risen further on news of exports to India. One-kg hilsa now sell for Tk 1,700-1,800, up from Tk 1,400-1,600 before."

Abdul Hafez, who came from Narsingdi to buy hilsa, said: "I came all the way to Chandpur to buy hilsa, but the picture here is different. Online I see one price, and here I see another. Prices have gone up Tk 200-300 in two days. My head spins hearing the prices at the landing. I came from far away, so I have to take some, even if only a little."

However, Md Shabe Barat Sarkar, general secretary of the Chandpur Fish Traders' Cooperative Society, said prices were already high because of a shortage of fish.

He said prices had risen by a further Tk 100-200 a kg since exports to India began. Unless supply increases, there is almost no chance of hilsa prices falling this year.

The cooperative leader added that supply at this time of year used to be 800 to 1,200 maunds, but is now only 500 to 600 maunds, which is why prices are not falling.

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