Jumbangla Desk: Hilsa extraction has increased in 20 rivers of coastal region Khulna. Although the fisheries office has announced an increase in hilsa production, vendors say the supply in the market is low. Because of this, ordinary people are buying hilsa at high prices.

khulna-hilsha

On Thursday (October 10) the Atai river area of ​​Khulna can be seen till noon, with numerous boats in the river. A fisherman with a net in each boat is harvesting hilsa. To get the nets from Mallikpur area of ​​Dighlia of Atai river, the boat pulls the tide and goes to Bhairab river in the three mouths of Charerhat river to raise the nets. Similarly they are fishing during low tide.

At Mallikpur Ghat, I spoke with the jailer Ratan Sheikh. He said, we catch hilsa in Atai river. When the tide of the river rises and the tide goes down, we go down to catch hilsa. There are at least one-and-a-half hundred fishermen in this river. Hilsa of this river has more taste. Along with Barisal's river hilsa, our river hilsa tastes better. We sell these fish in Mukampur market, Mallikpur market. Fishermen come there and buy fish.

Fisherman Mansoor Molla said, I am living by getting one or two hilsa every day in Atai river. We collect hilsa in the river from Ashad-Shravan to Ashwin-Kartik month. Catch hilsa at low tide, go up again at high tide. Fishermen catch fish with large nets during high tide. They rise again at low tide. This is how hilsa is caught day and night.

Noor Islam Sheikh said mills and factories are closed. Many are unemployed. Get silver hilsa here. Everyone is relying on this hilsa catch. Catch hilsa with net. Leave the net 40-50 feet below the river. After that, I keep pulling, I understand when I tie the hilsa, then I take it off. Take it like this. Hilsa is available less than before.

He said that the campaign is 22 days ahead, during which time the hilsa fishing will be stopped. I didn't even get a jail card. I don't know how to proceed.

Fisherman Enamul Sheikh said, some days I get 4-5 hilsa, and some days I get one or two hilsa. Available now. Got a hilsa a while ago. I sell this hilsa and take it to feed my children. I can catch the last fish on October 12. Then it is closed for 22 days.

Moshiur Rahman Johnny, who was standing on the bank of Atai river, said, "I have heard that I caught hilsa fish in the river. Many people are catching hilsa. Fresh hilsa is available here. But the price is a bit high. Small size hilsa is 700 to 750 taka per kg. Looking to buy fresh hilsa.

Not only Atai river, hilsa is extracted from 20 rivers of Khulna. According to the information provided by District Fisheries Office, Khulna's Pasur, Shibsa, Bhadra, Dhaki, Chunkuri, Jhapjhpia, Kazibacha, Shailmari, Gengrail, Hari Nadi, Bhadra Nadi, Deluti, Habarkhana, Bhairab, Rupsa, Atai, Majudkhali, Kapotaksh, Koira and Sheikh Bariyas. Fishermen collect hilsa in the river. In these rivers, 3 thousand 450 fishermen only collect hilsa.

According to the sources of the district fisheries office, hilsa extraction has increased in Khulna's rivers and streams in the last three financial years. Based on the information obtained from the 20 rivers and landing and landing centers here, they said that 2021-2022 fiscal year 2021-2022 fiscal year, 2022-2023 fiscal year 20268 metric tons and 2023-2024 fiscal year 2023-2024 fiscal year 20280 metric tons of hilsa have been extracted. The extraction of hilsa has increased by about 25 metric tons in three financial years. Besides, fishermen have extracted 786 metric tons of hilsa from the rivers of Khulna in three months of the current financial year.

The statistics of the fisheries office show that the hilsa production has increased, but the sellers are saying otherwise. They say that there is less supply of hilsa in the market. As a result, the price of hilsa has increased.

It can be seen in various retail markets of the city, hilsa of 1 kg size is being sold for 1900 to 2000 taka per kg, hilsa weighing more than 1 kg is being sold for 2200 taka to 2300 taka per kg. And hilsa of 800 to 900 gram size is 1700 to 1800 taka, hilsa of 700 to 750 gram weight is 1550 taka, hilsa of 500 to 600 gram is being sold at 1400 taka per kg. Apart from this, the price of 1 kg of hilsa in three pieces is 900 taka, small size (jatka) hilsa is being sold at 600 to 700 taka per kg.

No. 5 ghat of the city of the fishing industry. Bellal said that the supply of fish is low this year. This is why the price of hilsa is high. Earlier Jatka hilsa was Tk 200-250 at this time of the season, this year that fish has become Tk 700-750 per kg. This is the state of the market.

Alamgir Hossain, a hilsa seller, said that the amount of fish that used to come, now does not come that much. Earlier fish used to come in 10 rooms here, now fish come in 3-4 rooms. The amount of hilsa has decreased a lot. This is why the price is high. I bought LC (800-900g) size hilsa for Tk 1700 per kg. I will sell this fish in the retail market for 1800 taka per kg.

District Fisheries Officer Jaydev Pal said, fishermen extract hilsa from 20 rivers in Khulna. There are 45 thousand fishermen in the district. Among them, 3 thousand 450 people mainly collect hilsa. In the past years, the production of hilsa has increased in the rivers of Khulna region.

Mentioning that the migration of hilsa in the rivers of Khulna is being hindered somewhat, he said that the rivers and rivers of Khulna have been filled with silt, which is hindering it somewhat. In addition, factories have been established on the banks of some rivers. Hilsa migration is being hindered due to pollution and sanitation.

Regarding the increase in the price of hilsa, Jaydev Pal said, if hilsa is available in the rivers and streams of the coastal region, it is possible to control the price of hilsa in the inland water if the market is monitored. It is possible to keep the price of hilsa at a tolerable level. Source: Dhaka Post