The hilsa season is under way, but although supply in the markets is moderate, prices remain beyond the reach of ordinary people. Large hilsa in particular are scarce, and smaller fish dominate the stalls.

That was the picture at Karwan Bazar in the capital on 25 July.

Traders said hilsa weighing more than 1 kg were selling at Tk 2,000 in the wholesale market, while fish of 700 to 900 grams ranged from Tk 1,650 to Tk 2,000. River jatka (juvenile hilsa) were selling at Tk 800 to Tk 1,100.

Sellers said prices were lower this week than last, and the more fish caught in rivers and the sea, the more prices would fall. It is the start of the season, so not many fish are arriving, and few of those that do are large. Most hilsa weigh between 700 and 800 grams, and there are many under 500 grams.

At retail in Karwan Bazar, 1 kg hilsa were selling at Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,200, and fish under a kilo (700-900 grams) at Tk 1,400 to Tk 1,800; sellers said most of these were river fish.

Prices are also high in neighbourhood markets across Dhaka. At Peyarabag market there were no large hilsa; fish of 800 to 900 grams were selling at Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,200, and jatka at Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200.

Mokter Hossain, a seller at that market, told Jago News that fish seemed scarce and that hilsa prices would fall further in the full season of August-September.

Buyers said most people could not afford to spend Tk 2,000 on a large hilsa. A fish of about 800 grams costs Tk 1,500 to Tk 1,600.

Abdul Hakim, a police officer shopping at Karwan Bazar, said he had asked prices at several shops. "The fish and my money don't match. I bought pangas and tilapia instead."

Private-sector employee Robiul Hasan said hilsa could not be bought for less than Tk 1,000-1,200 a kg. He told Jago News that many fishermen could not go to sea in bad weather, but when the weather improved hilsa were caught. Because of brokers and middlemen, however, prices were far too high. If market prices were not controlled, the urban middle class would not be able to afford even jatka, he said.

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