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Hilsa price too high for any comfort to middle class

Published : Sunday, 1 September, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 335
Mizanur Rahman
Although Hilsa fish is at the top of the list of preferences, it is beyond the purchasing power of the middle class and lower-middle class people due to its high price. Hilsa is being sold at an unusually high prices even in the full season. Even though the supply is good, middle class families are not able to buy Hilsa due to the high price.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President Golam Rahman said, "The supply of Hilsa has decreased due to floods. As a result, prices have increased. But like every other time, the price gets several times higher after changing hands from the fishermen to the retailers via the middlemen. 

Different sellers in the same market are charging whatever price they want. We think strict monitoring is necessary to control the price."

Buyers are unhappy with the high price of Hilsa in the market, said Abdus Samad on Saturday at Badda kitchen market in the capital.

He said, "Because of the high price, I cannot buy Hilsa. I hope that the price will decrease during the Hilsa season. But this time in the market, the price of one kilogram of Hilsa is equal to two kilograms of beef. There is no reason why Hilsa from natural sources be so expensive."

In some shops of Kawran Bazar in the capital, it was found that Hilsa is being sold at high prices even though the supply is sufficient. Buyers expressed anger at the unusual price of Hilsa during the peak season.

The buyers complain that the traders are not reducing the prices even though the supply of fish is sufficient. Hilsa is being sold at higher prices because of the market syndicate.

These markets of the capital have seen that one to one and a half kg Hilsa is being sold at Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,200, small Hilsa of 700 to 800gm Hilsa is Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,400, 200gm to 400gm Hilsa is being sold at Tk 650 to Tk 750 per kg.

"How can it be bought and eaten? Hilsha weighing 500gm are being sold at Tk 800 per kg. It is not possible to buy anything else from the market. Fish is being sold in syndicates in the retail market as well, people will not be able to survive if this continues," said Dewan Mohammad who came to the market in Sheorapara in the capital.  

He said, "Hilsa fish has now become a dream. One kilogram of Hilsa is available for the price of two kilograms of beef, the price was much lower last year too. Last time I bought it for several days and this year I have to go back after hearing the price."

Rafiqul Islam said, "I don't bring big fish, bring small fish. Our customers are from middle class families."

He also said that due to the increase in prices, the sales have fallen by half.

Karwan Bazar, Mohakhali Bazar, Mirpur-No.6 and No.13 markets in the capital, one kg of Hilsa fish costs at least Tk 1,500 to Tk 1,600. It is being sold at a higher price.

Fishermen say that until June 23, there was a ban on Hilsa fishing in the sea for a total of 65 days. After the ban, Hilsa netting started, but by this time floods started. 

Abdul Mannan, a fish trader at Karwan Bazar, said the flood started when the supply of Hilsa fish was increasing in the market. However, traders started stocking up Hilsa in cold storage thus increasing prices in the market.

According to the information obtained from the Ministry of Commerce and various markets of the country, it can be said that the Hilsa caught by small fishermen in the rivers changes and goes to the market through wholesalers. Many wholesalers promise to sell seasonal Hilsa fish at a low price by paying fishermen in advance. Whenever Hilsa is caught in season, the wholesalers buy Hilsa fish at a lower price according to the previous commitment. Even though these Hilsa are bought at a low price, they sell Hilsa at a higher price to the retailers by showing various excuses including transportation cost. Retailers sell to consumers in the open market at several times over their buying price.

Abul Mansur, a fish trader in Chandpur, said, "The population of the country is increasing, but the number of Hilsa fish in the river is less than before. Commodity prices are increasing, labour costs are also increasing. The cost of hiring workers earlier has now doubled."

Director General (DG) of National Consumer Protection Directorate AHM Safikuzzaman said, "Hilsa is our national fish. We are extracting this fish from natural sources. There are many costs involved in fish farming including pond lease, fish hatchery, food, labour, keeping the oxygen level in the water right, guarding. If farmed fish get plague or are stolen... there is a lot of risk."

''On the other hand, there is no visible cost except natural Hilsa extraction. Still, the price of Hilsa in peak season is five times higher than the best farmed fish, Rui Katla, seems absurd to me.

Hilsa Landing Stations/Arats are mainly Barisal, Chandpur, Patharghata. It appears to me that the Hilsa dealers in these areas control its price. It is not desirable for anyone to buy Bengal hilsa at the price of Tk 1500 to Tk 2,000 per kg," he added.



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