Prices of hilsa have shot up again in Chandpur markets as a 22-day ban on hilsa fishing was set to begin at midnight past Saturday, to ensure safe spawning in the freshwaters of the Padma and Meghna rivers.
The ban has sparked a rush at Chandpur鈥檚 Boro Station fish ghat, one of the country鈥檚 largest fish landing centres, where buyers have been scrambling to purchase the priced fish before the restriction takes effect.
The government ban, aimed at protecting hilsa during its spawning season, will remain in place until November 3.
Traders said hilsa weighing 1 to 1.2 kilograms was being sold for Tk聽2,800- 3,000 a kilogram, a record high. The price of smaller hilsa, weighing 500 to 900 grams, ranged from Tk 1,200 - 2,000 a kilogram.
鈥楶rices were lower just a week ago. Now, even though I want to buy, I can鈥檛 because the prices have gone up by Tk聽500 - 700 a kilogram,鈥� said Solaiman, a buyer from Ashikati area.
At the fish landing centre, local fishermen were seen bringing fresh hilsa, some from nearby areas, while others arrived by trucks from Noakhali.
Omar Faruq, manager of the Kalu Bhuiyan fish shop, said, 鈥楾he upcoming 22-day ban is the reason. The number of retail buyers far outnumbers the fish supply here.鈥�
With the ban approaching, some tourists have also flocked to the landing centre, turning their fish-buying trip into a family outing, Faruq adding the market had been busy from morning till night, and on Fridays, many tourists were spotted buying hilsa and having it fried at nearby restaurants.
Chandpur district fisheries officer Golam Mehedi Hasan explained the practice of imposing the ban. 鈥楬ilsa migrate from the sea to freshwater during this time to spawn. The 22-day ban covers a 70-kilometre stretch from Shatnol in Matlab Uttar upazila to Char Bhairabi in Haimchar upazila.鈥�
All fishing, transporting, selling, and stocking of hilsa in this area will be prohibited during the ban.
Despite increased production 鈥� reaching 5,71,342 tonnes in the financial year 2022-23, up from 5,66,593 tonnes the previous year 鈥� the demand for hilsa remains high in Bangladesh, keeping prices elevated on the local market.
In the financial year 2023-24, Bangladesh exported 664.86 tonnes of hilsa to India, generating $7.71 million, according to the Department of Fisheries.
The previous year saw exports of 1,376.42 tonnes of hilsa, worth $13.68 million.