Staff Correspondent:

With the arrival of Pahela Baishakh, the demand for Hilsa fish has surged significantly in the markets of the capital. While the tradition of celebrating the Bengali New Year with Panta-Ilish remains strong, the high price of Hilsa has left many buyers in distress.

Currently, high-quality Hilsa weighing one kilogram is being sold at around BDT 3,000, while a 1.5 kg fish is priced close to BDT 4,000.

Even smaller Hilsa, weighing 500–600 grams, are being sold for BDT 1,500 to 1,800. Although some lower-quality frozen Hilsa imported from Myanmar are available at a slightly lower price, buyers report that the quality is unsatisfactory.

One fish seller said, “Though fishing in rivers is banned for two months, fishing in the sea is still ongoing.

However, a 65-day ban on sea fishing will begin on April 15. This limited supply has pushed prices up, he added.

“That said, in the last five or six days, the sea yield has improved, which has led to a slight drop in prices—around BDT 200 to 300 per kilogram”, further said the seller.

Despite the traditional pull of Hilsa during the festivities, many are now thinking that this year, Panta-Ilish might have to be a simpler affair due to financial constraints.