The Hilsha is the national fish of Bangladesh because of its unique taste, flavour and availability. It has commercial appeal in some Asian countries alongside Bangladesh and India. The fish is exported across the global as it has high value - albeit mostly among Bengalis.
The Hilsha fish is actually an oily fish, and is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. It is generally marketed fresh, frozen, smoked and salted. The body of a mature Hilsha can reach up to 60 cm in length. The males are generally smaller than the females and these fish can grow up to 3.0 kg in weight. Recently, a three kg Hilsha fish was caught in river Meghna near Chandpur.
The Hilsha fish breed mainly in rivers, upstream to about 50 km or even stretching over 1,000 km in the Ganges. But the younger fish may breed in tidal river zones. The main breeding season of this fish is from May to August during the southwest monsoon, besides a shorter season from January to February or March. Depending on the size of the females, they can lay up to two million eggs per spawning. In recent times, the Bangladesh government has imposed restrictions on catching Hilsha fish during the main breeding seasons.
A huge amount of Hilsha fishes are available in the local market this year. This time the price of Hilsha fish is also reasonable - allowing people from all walks of life to buy these. Hilsha contributes to about 12 per cent of the country's total fish production. Its contribution amounts to nearly 1.0 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
In Bangladesh, about 450,000 people are directly involved with Hilsha catching as a profession with many others getting indirectly involved. The government should continue its support to ensure a smooth and sustainable supply of Hilsha for the domestic and foreign market. It is one of the country's unique selling products to the rest of the world.
Md. Zillur Rahaman
Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd.
Lalmohan Branch, Bhola.
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