The banks of the Padma River in Manikganj are bustling with buyers as fishermen return with their prized hilsa after a 22-day fishing ban.
But the excitement at the traditional riverside fair is tempered by limited supply and high prices.
The hilsa fair at Bahadurpur in Harirampur upazila began on Friday, drawing buyers from Manikganj and surrounding areas.
Although fishing has resumed in the Padma and Jamuna rivers, catches have fallen short of expectations.
From early morning, fishing boats arrive one after another at Bahadurpur Ghat, where buyers and traders gather even before the fish are unloaded.
Bargaining begins as soon as the hilsa arrive, with buyers competing for their preferred catch.
Some seek larger fish, while others look for smaller ones.
Held for nearly two decades, the fair has become a familiar attraction along the Padma.
Buyers travel from Harirampur, Ghior, Manikganj Sadar, Dhamrai and Savar to purchase freshly caught hilsa directly from the river.
Despite higher prices, demand remains strong.
Fishermen and traders say catches have been lower than expected this year.
Rising diesel prices have also increased the cost of operating motorised fishing boats, leaving fishermen with little profit even when they sell their catch at higher prices.
“Four of us fished all night and sold fish worth Tk4,000. But we spent Tk1,500 on fuel alone. What is left for us?” said fisherman Palash.
Rahmat Ali, a hilsa fisherman from the North Channel area of Faridpur, said he had travelled to Bahadurpur hoping to secure better prices.
“Fish fetch good prices here, which is why I came. But fewer hilsa are being caught in the river this time,” he said.
Bahadurpur Bazar Traders’ Association Organising Secretary Mehedi Hasan Shahin said the fair had been held for nearly two decades after the annual hilsa fishing ban.
“Buyers come here from different parts of Manikganj as well as Dhaka and Savar,” he said.
Fish trader Ayub Ali said residents and the traders’ association jointly organised the fair.
Hilsa worth several lakh taka were sold on the opening day, he said, adding that the fair could continue for up to seven days, depending on the supply of fish from the river.
Manikganj District Fisheries Officer Sheikh Monirul Islam Monir said fishermen had resumed fishing following the 22-day ban, imposed to allow breeding hilsa to spawn.
He said enforcing the restrictions could help increase hilsa production, but sales at the fair would ultimately depend on how much fish the rivers yielded.
