Hilsa, the national fish of Bangladesh is not found in an adequate quantity this season. Further, the large size Hilsa is mainly found in the sweet water of Bhola. Kuakata, Barishal and some other southern belts have almost become deserted of large Hilsa.
The people in Jhenaidah and surrounding areas have been consuming the saline prone area produced Hilsa, mainly Chattogram. The present supply of the Hilsa cannot meet the demand of the commoners this season, said Hilsa traders of Jhenaidah.
Visiting the wholesale fish market in Jhenaidah town it was found that the traders have been selling the smaller size Hilsa weighting 600 to 800 grams and presently larger in size 900 grams to 1,100 grams. Those were selling between Taka 700-800 and 1,200 per Kg. Government employee Shamsul Islam and Numai Chandra Das while purchasing Hilsa said the quality large fish weighting 1,200 to 1,500 grams or more is not available. Most of the Hilsa available there were from Chattogram which was not so tasty as the southern belt varieties.
House wife Shamima Rahman and schoolteacher Rama Rani Bhowmik when asked at a Jhenaidah fish market, said they could not be satisfied with the size and quality of Hisla in Bengali month Aswin when the supply should be abandoned in the market.
Bangladesh Matsyajibi Samabaya Samity’s Jhenaidah unit vice president Shahidul Islam when contacted said they have been facing severe shortage of supply of quality and larger size Hilsa from southern districts.
The fish vendors said the quality Hilas are being imported to neighboring country, which might be reflected in the Hilsa markets in the country as the supply of Hilsa was reduced.
The fish trading association leader said they used to receive 300 to 400 mounds of Hilsa including the larger size quality fishes daily. But the supply reduced to almost 50 per cent this season.
The fish trader have been meeting up the demand anyhow with the limited supply of Hilsa from Chattogram area, which is hardly enough to satisfy the common people this season.
