Traders raise Hilsa prices cashing in on Pahela Boishakh gaiety

The prices of Hilsa fish have increased in retail markets in the city ahead of Pahela Boishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year.

Customers allege that sellers in the market are raising the prices as they want to take full advantage of craze of Bangalees for celebrating the Pahela Boishakh. The Bengali New Year will be celebrated on April 14 this year.

The price of Hilsa weighing around 1.0 kg to 1.2 kg has increased by Tk 300 to Tk 400 a kg and was selling at Tk 1,000-Tk to Tk 1,200 a kg at the city's kitchen markets on Tuesday.

A piece of Hilsa weighing nearly 1.5 kg was selling at Tk 1400-Tk 1600 on the day while the same item was sold at Tk 300-400 less days ago.

A Hilsa weighing about 600 grams to 700 grams was selling at Tk 300 to Tk 350 a piece at Karwan Bazar on Monday whereas it was sold at Tk 150 to Tk 250 a piece two days back, said retailers.   

Many seasonal hawkers are selling Hilsha fish at little  lower prices and customers are interested to buy from them.

Humayra Khatun, a Hatirpool resident, told the FE that prices of Hilsa are now much higher as it has become a custom to add the delicious fish to the menu of the Pahela Boishakh.

She bought two pieces of Hilsa weighing around 2.0 kgs from the Hatirpool kitchen market at Tk 2500.

Traders said usually the demand of Hilsa increases ahead of Pahela Boishakh as it is a traditional delicacy served to celebrate on special occasions. They said consumers have already started buying Hilsa from now and the demand would increase more early next week as the New Year's Day approaches.

Anwar Hossain Sikder, general secretary of the Bangladesh Khudro Matshyjibi Jeley Samiti, told the FE over phone that every year a section of traders hoards Hilsa ahead of Pahela Boishakh to create an artificial crisis in the market.

Those traders have already started stocking the tastiest fish and manipulate the market to make windfall profits, he said.

"We don't increase prices. Retailers do it to cash in on the event unlawfully," he said.

Kader Mia, a Hilsa trader at Hatirpool Bazar, said the wholesale price of the fish has increased and especially the prices of the fish weighing around 1.0 kg to 1.5 kg have increased most in the market.

He also blamed the wholesalers for unusual hike of Hilsa price.