AMTALI, BARGUNA, Oct 2: Hilsa fishes are selling at exorbitant prices in Amtali Upazila of the district due to shortage of supply in haats and bazaars.
According to market sources, the prices of Hilsa are going higher as fishers are not getting expected Hilsa fish in the sea.
At present, per kilogram (kg) Hilsa of one kg weight is selling at Tk 1,500-1,600. But it is beyond the capacity of middle-income people while it is just a dream for low- income people.
Over half kg weight Hilsas are selling at Tk 800-1,000 per kg.
This picture was seen in different haats and bazaars in seven unions and one municipality in the upazila.
While talking with his correspondent of The Daily Observer, a number of fishers said, compared to the last year, this year they are getting inadequate Hilsa in the Bay of Bengal.
Yet, they hope, they will get adequate Hilsa fish during forthcoming full moon and off-moon time.
They wanted not to impose 22-day fishing ban in the sea from October 12.
According to sources at the Fisheries Office in the upazila, huge Hilsas will be netted during the coming full moon and off-moon time.
Trader Noor Alam at Natun Bazar at Amtali said, "Hilsas are not netted expectedly in the sea. In other years, Hilsas would be netted hugely at this time. We demand of the authorities concerned not to impose the 22-day ban from October 12".
A customer Suman Mahmud at AK School Baszar said, "The price of Hilsa is very high. We just see but can't purchase. "
Senior Fisheries Officer in the upazila Tanmoy Kumar Das said, "Hilsas are not netted in Payra point like before. Hilsas have changed moving channels. Once changed the route, Hilsas don't return to it."
