The price of the hilsa increases when changing hands

Chittagong: The shopkeepers’ representatives are ready to unload the line from the trawlers. In addition to the medium and large size hilsa, there is also hilsa jatka (less than 9 inches).

After sorting these fish in front of the warehouse, they are weighed and placed in the warehouse. Then the preparation of the conservation with ice passes.

On Thursday (September 10) and Friday (September 11) morning, Chittagong Biggest Fish Landing Center, Fishery Ghat and Rani Rasmoni Ghat in South Kattli, Anandabazar area were visited, the whole area was full of silver hilsa bikinis. Hilsa is sold from different warehouses. Wholesale buyers from different places are buying these yarns at fixed prices. So he goes far and away.

Trawler owners and fishermen said more medium and large size hilsa have been caught. The price is also within reach. The trawler is sold before it reaches the dock. Besides Hilsa, various kinds of marine fish also come, including Laita, Rupchanda, Popa, Faisya. Each fishing boat carries 50 to 200 tons of hilsa. About 600 Chittagong fishermen are involved in fishing. These fish go to 220 stores in the new fishing ghat and 6 stores in the old fishing ghat.

It is known that after buying hilsa from fishermen, intermediaries sell it to stockists for more than Rs 100-200 per quintal. Shopkeepers are back to wholesale at a higher price of Rs. The price rises automatically after the fish retailer changes hands and reaches the general buyer. However, retailers say they are selling hilsa to buyers of different sizes with low profits.

According to shopkeepers, currently the wholesale price of hilsa weighing 400-500 grams per kg is Rs 500, hilsa weighing 700-800 grams is sold at Rs 700-850 and hilsa weighing 1 kg It sells for Rs 700-850. There are still hundreds of trawlers at sea. When they return, the price will drop even more. There isn’t much profit from wholesaling, including the cost of storing and transporting the fish.

Professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries at Chittagong University. Rashed Un Nabi said, saltwater fish thread eggs in freshwater. They come to the rivers of Bangladesh and eastern India to lay their eggs and when the eggs hatch and the young grow up, the hilsa returns to the sea. On the way back, the fishermen were caught in a net. To ensure natural reproduction, hilsa harvesting at sea has been stopped for 75 days since last May. Fishermen were unable to put to sea even after the Corona epidemic. Because of this, the hilsa is being caught in flocks.

President of the Fishery Ghat Sonali Mechanical Fishing Cooperative Society. Ali told banglanews that at the moment between 150 and 200 tons of fish in a trawler. Hilsa is purchased from fishermen in the Fisherighat, Kattli and Anandabazar areas at Taka 20,000-22,000 per kg. Hilsa 600-800 grams sells at Rs 16,000 per ounce, yarns 500-800 grams at Rs 14,000 per ounce, and smaller yarns at Rs 12,000 per ounce. Prices may fall further in the future.

Bangladesh time: 1100 hours, September 11, 2020
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