Once the centerpiece of weekend feasts, the beloved national fish, hilsa has now drifted beyond the reach of ordinary families, with its price rising by nearly half in just a year.
A new report by the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) shows that between August and September alone, hilsa prices jumped by Tk 200–500 per kilogram, with large river-caught hilsa fetching as much as Tk1,000 more than last year, reports UNB.
In August 2024, a 1.5kg hilsa would cost around Tk2,000 per kg. By late 2025, that same fish is being sold for Tk3,000, marking a steep 50% increase within 12 months.
A visit to Dhaka’s major kitchen markets offers a clear view of the shift – river fish are disappearing from the stalls, replaced by farmed varieties.
Traders blame the government’s seasonal fishing ban, which aims to protect breeding stocks but has squeezed supply.
Fish such as rui, katla, koi, and shing now fill the market gap – yet even these alternatives are seeing inflated prices.
“Just before the fishing ban, people rush to buy hilsa in bulk, and that sends prices soaring,” said Enamul Haque, a trader at Shantinagar market.
Another seller at Karwan Bazar said wholesale prices had surged sharply, forcing retailers to increase rates even without visible supply disruption.
For many shoppers, the sight of hilsa now comes with disbelief.
“Ten years ago, you could buy two big hilsas for less than Tk2,000. At present, one costs over Tk 5,000,” said Mohibur Rahman, a long-time consumer.
Middle-class families once able to enjoy the fish every few weeks, now find it unaffordable.
“Hilsa used to be for everyone. Now it feels like a luxury item,” said Shagufta Akter Lipi, a private employee from Mohammadpur.
Others question whether the fishing ban really benefits consumers.
“The ban is supposed to help increase production. But prices jump right after it ends every single year,” said Arif Hossain, a shopper at Karwan Bazar.
Behind the scenes, however, fishermen see little of the rising profit. In Bhola, the largest hilsa-producing district, most fishermen depend on dadon – advance loans from middlemen which force them to sell at fixed rates.
“Our profit is almost nothing after paying off loans,” said Khalek Majhi, a veteran fisherman.
According to the BTTC report, the hilsa’s journey from river to table passes through five or more layers – fishermen, landing stations, wholesalers, commission agents, and retailers before reaching consumers.
A fisherman may earn just Tk800 per kg for large hilsa, while the same fish is later sold in Dhaka markets for Tk3,000, showing a massive markup driven by intermediaries and hidden commissions.
Fishing costs typically hover around Tk470–500 per kg, while resale margins and multiple transfers add another Tk1,000 or more, including Tk75 in wholesale-to-retail movement and Tk150 from retailers to consumers.
Commissions often exceed 10%, the study notes.
Experts say stockpiling and syndicate control over cold storage contribute further to the artificial price hikes.
“Prices increase naturally with multiple handovers, but syndicate manipulation pushes them up by another 60–70%,” observed Sabbir Hossain Khan, agricultural economist and PhD researcher at the Tokyo University of Agriculture.
To curb the spiral and ensure fair prices, the BTTC has suggested reducing middlemen and promoting direct sales through fishermen’s cooperatives or government-run outlets.
If implemented, experts believe, such measures could bring back the days when the sizzle of hilsa once again graced the tables of families across Bangladesh not just on special occasions, but as part of everyday life.
