Rare Two-Kilogram Hilsa Fetches High Price at Monpura Fish Market Amid Seasonal Scarcity

Fishermen in Bhola have reported a scarcity of Hilsa during the peak season, yet a rare, two-kilogram Hilsa known locally as a “Raja Ilish” (King Hilsa) was caught in the Meghna River on Monday, fetching 8,500 taka at an open auction.

The fish was brought to the Ramnewaz fish landing station in Monpura Upazila by fisherman Kiran Majhi. It was sold at the wholesale depot owned by local Bangladesh Nationalist Party Upazila President Bachchu Chowdhury. Local fish trader Mohammad Firoz secured the winning bid of 8,500 taka.

Kiran Majhi stated that he discovered the large Hilsa while retrieving his nets early Monday morning alongside smaller catches. Mohammad Firoz, the buyer, confirmed that he outbid several other traders at the auction and intends to transport the fish to Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar, where he expects to sell it for a higher profit.

The catch generated significant excitement at the landing station, where locals gathered to view the unusually large fish. Residents noted that the current season has been marked by lower-than-normal Hilsa yields in both rivers and the Bay of Bengal, making large specimens rare. A similar fish was sold for 9,000 taka last Thursday, sparking brief celebrations among the fishing community despite the ongoing supply shortage.

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Local resident Lokman Hossain noted that the exorbitant prices and the general lack of Hilsa have made large catches a focal point for the community.

Monpura Upazila Fisheries Officer Jayanta Kumar described the catch as a positive development, suggesting that increased rainfall could improve overall yields. Meanwhile, Bhola District Fisheries Officer Muhammad Delwar Hossain noted that identifying a single cause for the current supply decline is difficult. Regarding the size of the Monpura specimen, he explained that while most Hilsa do not reach such weights, those that survive in favorable environmental conditions for longer durations tend to grow significantly larger than the rest of the school.