The peak hilsa season runs through August and September. Supply has risen since the start of the season, so prices are slightly lower than before, though still not comfortable for people on low incomes.

A visit to several Dhaka markets on Friday (23 August) found that many buyers were happy with even the small fall in hilsa prices. Sellers said sales had also risen. The prices of other fish have also eased somewhat under the influence of hilsa prices.

At Karwan Bazar in the capital, hilsa weighing one to one and a half kilograms, which sold earlier for Tk 1,500 to 1,800, is now selling at Tk 1,200 to 1,600, though prices vary from market to market.

A few days ago, hilsa of 800 to 900 grams cost Tk 1,400-1,500; this has come down by about Tk 200 to Tk 1,200-1,300. River hilsa of the same size costs more, however, because while the supply of sea hilsa has risen, river fish has fallen.

Previously, small hilsa (200-400 grams) could not be had for under Tk 700-800. Now small hilsa is available at Tk 500-600 a kg.

At Rampura market, hilsa costs Tk 50-100 a kg more than at Karwan Bazar. Seller Aminul Islam said prices there had fallen at a similar rate, with a kilogram of hilsa down by about Tk 200 over two to three days.

"The price has fallen because supply has increased, and there are fewer buyers by comparison. It is the end of the month, and for many other reasons many people have no money," he said.

At Malibagh market, seller Alam was asking Tk 2,000 for large two-kilogram hilsa. "There is no longer the lament over high hilsa prices. The heat has gone out of prices a little, and they will fall further if supply holds," he said.

He said many people were still not happy with the price and were waiting in the hope that it would fall further. In the retail market the fish is Tk 200-300 cheaper than the previous week.

Even so, some traders say not enough hilsa is being caught even in the peak season. Supply was higher in other years, they said, and for a few years prices fell even lower.

Buyers say hilsa supply has risen somewhat compared with last week. Retail prices have fallen a little as a result, but have not fully returned to normal. They believe prices will become bearable if supply increases further.

A buyer named Abu Sayeed said prices had come down but needed to fall further so that everyone could buy. "A kilogram of fish should be within a thousand taka," he said.

He said he had heard on television that fish would not be exported to India this time, which is why everyone was waiting for prices to fall, but their hopes had not yet been met.

While hilsa prices have fallen, the prices of vegetables and other goods are unchanged in the markets. Broiler chicken has risen by Tk 10 a kg and is selling at Tk 180.

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