The price of hilsa in the sea has not decreased in the market

A+ A A-

Over the past few years, fishing in the sea has been disrupted due to various reasons including the abundance of jelly fish in the sea, climate change. The energy crisis was added last March. As a result, before Baisakh, the fishermen were worried about the hilsa. But that worry is gone. On the Chittagong coast of the Bay of Bengal, the fishermen are catching flocks of hilsa.

According to the information of the Fisheries Department, the amount of hilsa harvested in Chittagong coast in March this year is about 10 times more than in March of the previous year. Overall, compared to the first 9 months of the fiscal year 2024-25, the hilsa production in the current fiscal year 2025-26 has increased almost two and a half times.

Fishermen caught fish in the sea in coastal areas including Patenga, Halishahar, Kattali of Chittagong city. Apart from this, the fishermen of Sandwip, Sitakunda, Mirsrai, Anwara and Banshkhali also catch fish in the sea. Fishery officials said that due to good hilsa production in March, the market price should be slightly lower this year. However, most of the fish harvested are small in size.

According to the information of the Chittagong District Fisheries Department, fishermen of five upazilas and cities of the district catch hilsa in the sea. Fishermen from Anwara and Banshkhali catch fish from the sea as well as the Sangu River and the fishermen from Sandwip also catch fish from the Meghna River. Last March, about 508 tons or about 500,000 kg of hilsa were caught in the nets of the fishermen of the city and these areas. About 50 tons of Hilsa was extracted in March of the previous year.

According to the Department of Fisheries, 1 thousand 557 tons of hilsa were harvested in Chittagong from July to March of the fiscal year 2024-25. In the same period of the current financial year, it has increased to about 5 thousand tons. About 167 tons of hilsa were caught in Kutubdia channel and Sangu river in March. The fishermen of the city have extracted about 100 tons of hilsa from the Bay of Bengal.

Hilsa comes from the river and the sea. Padma and Meghna Hilsa demand is high. Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong coast sea hilsa are also in demand. However, although hilsa is found in the sea recently, hilsa is less available in the river. However, on April 6, 101 maunds of hilsa were caught together in the net of a trawler in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.

15-16 percent of the total hilsa in the country comes from commercial vessels. According to the Department of Marine Fisheries, 17 lakh 90 thousand 276 kg of hilsa was harvested in the sea by commercial vessels in the fiscal year 2024-25; An average of about one and a half lakh kg per month. In the first seven months (July-January) of the financial year 2025-26, 13 lakh 15 thousand 263 kg have been extracted. An average of about 1 lakh 88 thousand kg per month.

Bangladesh Law Minister Says Sheikh Hasina Faces Arrest Upon Return to Country

Read More

Hilsa season is generally observed from June to October in the country. At present, due to lack of season and fuel crisis, fishermen’s going to the sea has decreased. A 58-day fishing ban in the sea begins on April 15. Apart from this, there is a two-month ban on jatka conservation in Chandpur’s Padma-Meghna river from March 1.

Director of Fisheries Department Chittagong. Anwar Hossain said that compared to the last financial year, the hilsa production in the river has decreased slightly. However, there is a large amount of jatka in the river. If preserved, the production of hilsa in the river will increase in the next season. Climate change, river filling, water pollution and over-harvesting are responsible for the decline of hilsa in rivers.

Hilsa is in demand all year round in the country. The demand increases around the first Baisakh. According to the government, Hilsa production in Chittagong has increased but the price has not decreased; Rather increased. According to the government organization Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the price of hilsa has increased by 15 percent in the last one year. The Department of Agriculture Marketing is also saying the same thing. According to TCB information, Hilsa was sold for Tk 600 to Tk 1,800 in the market last March.

On Monday at 11:30 am, the city’s Karnaphuli Complex market was visited, and hilsa weighing 300 grams to 1 kg was being sold. The price of these fish demanded by Padma Hilsa is Tk 1,100 to Tk 2,400 per kg. However, buyers of hilsa were not seen in the market. Most are turning away knowing the price. Talked with businessman Rokon Uddin in the market. He said, “Hilsa will not be needed on Baisakh, but the wife and children have demanded it.” Padma did not like it, so it was not taken.

Joint Secretary General of Chittagong Sea Boat Owners Association. Ismail claims that the extraction of hilsa has not increased much. Fishermen’s accounts do not match with government accounts. As a result, the price did not decrease that way. At present, small-sized hilsa is being sold at Tk 600 to Tk 700 per kg.

When asked, Deputy Director of National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate Mohammad Fayez Ullah told Prothom Alo that there is a surveillance on the supply and price of hilsa in the market around Baishakh. Action will be taken according to law if any trader or hawker tries to increase the price by hoarding.