AMTALI, BARGUNA, Apr 12: Ahead of the first day of Boishakh, the fish markets of Amtali in Barguna, as well as coastal areas including Taltali, are facing a severe hilsa crisis.
Due to a shortage of fuel oil, most fishing boats cannot go into the deep sea to catch fish. As a result, there is almost no supply of marine hilsa in the market. Traders say that although there is usually a plentiful supply of hilsa at this time every year, this year the situation is completely different.
Demand has multiplied on the occasion of Boishakh, but supply has dropped to nearly zero. River hilsa is now the only hope, and that hilsa is being sold at abnormally high prices. Currently, a maund of hilsa weighing one kilogramme is being sold for around Tk 130,000 to Tk 140,000. The price of hilsa weighing 800 to 900 grammes has risen to Tk 115,000 to Tk 120,000. Hilsa weighing 600 grammes is being sold for Tk 75,000 to Tk 80,000. Even juvenile hilsa (jatka) is being sold at Tk 65,000 to Tk 70,000 per maund.
Md Sohel, a trader at Amtali fish market, said that hilsa is not coming from rivers or the sea. Even if small-sized hilsa are found from the sea, they are being sold at Tk 45,000 per maund.
Traders at Patharghata fishing harbour in Barguna said that there is huge demand in the market surrounding Boishakh. However, due to lack of supply, the few fish that do arrive are being bought up by wholesalers immediately, who then send them to Dhaka and other large cities. Virtually no hilsa is available in the local market. Several aratdars (wholesale agents) at the BFDC market said that their business has nearly come to a halt due to the supply crisis.
Where business is normally bustling at this time each year, they are now facing losses. They fear that if the fuel crisis persists, it could affect the next hilsa season as well. Those concerned say that if the fuel supply is not normalised quickly, the crisis may worsen in these markets for one of the country's most traditional fish. This could also have a negative impact on the spirit of Boishakh.
