Hilsa from Chattogram and Cox's Bazar is being passed off as fish from Chandpur, the Padma, Barishal or Pirojpur and sold at higher prices in markets across the eight districts of Rangpur division, traders and shoppers told Bangla Tribune's reporter after three days at City Bazar, the region's largest wholesale fish market.

Traders said no consignment of Chandpur or Padma hilsa has reached City Bazar in the past year, yet some sellers are charging Tk 3,000 to 3,500 a kilo for fish sold under those names. Some wholesalers are selling fish labelled as from Barishal and Pirojpur at Tk 2,200 to 2,500 a kilo.

Stalls use powerful white and red lamps that make the head look reddish and the whole fish bright, so lower-quality fish looks fresh. A trader who asked not to be named said all the hilsa now in the market comes from Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, and those selling it as Padma or Chandpur fish are cheating buyers. Another said consumer-rights officials had recently told stallholders to stop using such lamps.

Trader Saheb Ali said Indian hilsa was on sale until ten days ago but he stopped selling it after customers complained about the taste. Trader Monoranjan Dhar said he sells one-kilo Padma hilsa from Chandpur at Tk 3,000 to 3,200, Barishal and Pirojpur fish at Tk 2,200 to 2,500, and Chattogram hilsa at Tk 1,800 to just under Tk 2,000.

Traders themselves admit there is no way to tell by looking where a hilsa came from; buyers must trust the seller. Shopper Abdullah Al Maruf said the fish often turns out tasteless once cooked. Homemaker Asma Mortuza said no Padma or Chandpur hilsa reaches the region at all; some comes from Barishal and most from Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.

Mostafizur Rahman, assistant director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection in Rangpur, said: "We have received complaints that buyers are being cheated in the sale of hilsa. We will quickly run drives and take action." Mislabelling hurts both shoppers and the reputation of river-caught hilsa and the fishers who land it.

Source: Bangla Tribune