If hilsa can be brought straight from where it is caught to the point of sale, its price can be brought down, and this must be done by cutting out middlemen, said Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

The fisheries adviser said: "We take various steps to protect hilsa, and often fishing has to be stopped. We cannot bring down market prices."

She was speaking as chief guest at the launch of reduced-price hilsa sales in front of the BFDC building in the capital on 19 January. The event was organised jointly by the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation and the Marine Fisheries Association.

Farida Akhter said hilsa is not just the national fish; taste, cooking and a way of life are all bound up with it. The people of Bangladesh have a right to eat this fish at a price within their reach. "We have taken an initiative. We may not be able to satisfy everyone. We will not stop at this; we will try to find out how to reach more people."

She said: "We have hilsa weighing 450 to 800 grams here. We want the cooperation of the fisheries association, and we will try harder. We try to keep the price within reach so that the public can eat this fish."

Enam Chowdhury, president of the Marine Fisheries Association, said hilsa has become very scarce. "We fish in the deep sea. This is the first initiative in the country to sell hilsa at a reduced price, and through it we will be able to provide hilsa at an affordable price. This fish is a huge source of protein. Our aim will be to take this initiative across the country."

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