Despite record catches of hilsa in Chandpur and other coastal districts, this special fish remains largely unaffordable for the common people due to soaring prices fuelled by market syndicates. In a bid to address this issue, the Cabinet Division has taken a proposal by the Chandpur Deputy Commissioner to regulate the price of hilsa and break the hands of dishonest syndicate.
The proposal was formally presented to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who approved it, signalling a move to bring the popular national fish within the reach of ordinary consumers.
On Tuesday night (1 July), the Chandpur DC’s office confirmed the development to UNB, revealing that the approval followed an official letter dated 26 June from Mahmud Ullah Maruf, senior assistant secretary of the Cabinet Division. The letter was sent to the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner, the DC of Chandpur, and the private secretary to the Cabinet secretary.
The recommendation stemmed from classified fortnightly reports submitted by divisional commissioners for June 2025, which were subsequently placed before the chief adviser.
According to the proposal, a small group of unscrupulous traders and wholesale agents in Chandpur and surrounding districts are exploiting the high demand for hilsa by setting arbitrary prices, making the fish unaffordable for most. The Cabinet Division noted that although hilsa is caught in large numbers, including in Barishal, Chattogram, Bhola, Cox’s Bazar, Patuakhali, Barguna, and Jhalakathi, price control in only one district would not suffice.
The letter further stated that since hilsa is a naturally produced resource and fishermen bear almost no production costs, the prices are being artificially manipulated through syndicates and profiteering middlemen.
In light of this, the proposal called for setting a fair and standardised price for hilsa that takes into account natural production, transport, and related costs. It also stressed that proper guidance be issued to implement the pricing policy nationally and prevent future syndicate control.
Speaking to UNB, Chandpur DC Mohammad Mohsin Uddin explained, “Hilsa is caught and traded in about 10 to 12 districts. If we fix a fair price only in Chandpur, the fish will still be sold at higher prices elsewhere. That’s why I requested the ministry to take a comprehensive initiative to protect the market from syndicates and ensure the price remains within people’s purchasing power.”
Following the chief adviser’s approval, the relevant ministries have been instructed to take necessary action and inform the Cabinet Division on the progress of the implementation.