National fish now out of reach for many consumers in Bagerhat

The renowned silver hilsa, historically a staple from the Panguchi and Baleshwar rivers in Bangladesh's Bagerhat region, has become a luxury item, largely out of reach for low- and middle-income consumers. Soaring prices and a dwindling supply have transformed the once-bustling fish markets into scenes of scarcity.

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Hilsa rarely comes to the market now. Whatever is available is priced so high that it is impossible for ordinary families to buy.

Traditionally, the months of Ashar and Shraban were peak seasons for hilsa in Morrelganj and Sarankhola upazilas. Now, even juvenile hilsa (jatka) commands prices between Tk 1,000 and Tk 1,200 per kilogram, with medium to large fish fetching Tk 3,000 to Tk 4,000. Local homemaker Asma Akter expressed dismay, stating, "Whatever is available is priced so high that it is impossible for ordinary families to buy." Hasib Khan, another resident, echoed this sentiment, calling the purchase of hilsa "like a dream."

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We are struggling to manage daily expenses. Buying hilsa for several thousand taka is now like a dream.

Fishermen are also struggling, with many returning empty-handed from the Baleshwar river, which was once abundant with hilsa. Monir Hossain, a fisherman, noted the recent appearance of larger fish, but the overall catch remains low. Traders at the Rayenda Fish Market confirm that low supply from both rivers and the sea has driven up wholesale prices, making it difficult for them to source fish affordably.

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the Baleshwar river was once teeming with hilsa, but they now often return empty-handed.

Experts point to several factors contributing to the decline. Md Abul Hossain, president of the Sarankhola Upazila Fishermen's Association, cited illegal river enclosures, the use of destructive fine-mesh nets (bendijal) for catching juvenile fish, overfishing with modern technology, and natural disasters. However, fisheries officials like Binoy Kumar Roy, Senior Fisheries Officer of Morrelganj Upazila, believe the crisis is temporary. He stated that sufficient hilsa exist in the sea and rivers, and supply is expected to increase once the peak season begins in Bhadra-Ashwin, attributing the current situation to the pre-season period.

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low supply in both the rivers and the sea had driven up wholesale prices, forcing traders to buy large hilsa from fishermen for Tk 3,000 to Tk 4,000.