After a long wait, hilsa fishing resumed in the rivers on 26 October at the end of the 22-day government ban, and hilsa has gone on sale in the markets. But prices are high, and buyers say hilsa is selling far too dear.

This was the picture on the morning of 29 October at the Mirpur 11 market and the Kalshi market area in Mirpur in the capital.

Shamim Mridha, a hilsa seller at the Mirpur 11 market, told Banglanews that hilsa began reaching the market on 27 October after the ban. He is selling hilsa weighing 1.5 kg at Tk 1,200 a kg, and smaller hilsa at Tk 750-800 a kg. Sales are very low, he said.

Md Jumman, a hilsa seller at Kalshi market, said sales are much lower. He is selling hilsa of 1.3-1.4 kg at Tk 1,000 and 900-gram fish at Tk 900, while small hilsa sell at Tk 600-700 a kg.

Milton Mridha, a private bank official shopping for fish, told Banglanews that hilsa prices were very high. "I thought I would buy a big hilsa on the holiday for everyone to eat together. But with these prices, it looks like I will have to go home with a farm chicken," he said.

Source: Banglanews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.