A large hilsa fish, weighing 1.7 kilograms, was sold for Tk 7,500 at the Patharghata fish wholesale market in Barguna on Saturday morning, as prices surge ahead of Pahela Baishakh.
The fish was brought to the Munni fish wholesale market, where it was sold through an open auction among several wholesalers.
Following competitive bidding among several wholesalers, Zakir Hossain, a wholesaler and fish merchant, emerged as the highest bidder to secure the prized catch.
Explaining his purchase, Zakir Hossain stated that the high demand for large hilsa ahead of the upcoming Pohela Boishakh festival prompted him to offer the top price in the open auction.
He further noted that the fish has already been dispatched to Dhaka, where he expects it to be sold for a favourable price.
Imran Hossain of the Patharghata fish port observed that the supply of Hilsa is currently extremely limited, with almost no fish being caught in the sea. This specific hilsa was caught in the Baleshwar River.
The approaching Bengali New Year has caused prices for the silver fish to multiply several times over. Even smaller juvenile Hhlsa, known as Jatka, are currently fetching prices as high as Tk 60,000 per maund.
Meanwhile, retail buyers in Barguna have complained that fish prices in the local markets have been abnormally hiked in anticipation of the Pohela Boishakh celebrations.
