Consumers, experts and politicians protested Wednesday the government move to lift the ban on export of Hilsa.
The government is considering withdrawal of the embargo which was imposed on July 31, 2012 to make the item affordable for the fixed income group of people of Bangladesh.
The protestors said the fish, which could be purchased by only a section of people a year ago, has now entered the kitchen of fixed income group thanks to the government initiative.
"But we have come to know from an English daily that government is getting ready to lift up the ban" Deshpremik Janatar Mancha (DJM) convener M Enamul Hoque, a platform of students, professionals and political activists said.
He was addressing a programme "Say 'No' to Lifting of Hilsa Export Ban" organised by the DJM in the city.
He said the price of a medium-sized Hilsa was Tk750 to Tk 800 a year back which is now Tk200-250.
The ban has helped common people taste the national fish, he said.
"We have to first feed ourselves and then consider feeding others" he said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP-Bhasani) organised a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the city the same day protesting move by the government to lift the ban.
Its president Moktab Ahmed Bhasani said, "We have come to know that government officials are thinking to withdraw the embargo following the request of Indian High Commissioner."
Mr Bhasani said the government has to take stern action against the fish smugglers to increase the supply of the fish item in the mainstream markets instead of giving export orders.
But, secretary for the ministry of commerce (MoC) Mahbub Ahmed on Sunday told newsmen that his ministry has taken a move to make way for exporting Hilsa to India.
"We are examining the related statistics and info," he said.
When asked whether the ban would be lifted very soon, he said, "It's under process."
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told newsmen the same day that formal export of Hilsa fish would be better than smuggling of this delicious fish.
Pointing to the protein deficit prevailing in the country, the experts advocated for continuation of the ban.
Dhaka University Institute of Nutrition and Food Science Professor Dr Golam Maula said at least 82 per cent of the country's population suffer from serious protein deficiency owing to lack of meat and fish intakes.
This results from high prices which cuts back their purchasing power.
He informed that Hilsa is rich in amino acids, minerals and lipids, with many essential and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).
"It is found to be beneficial to human health because of very high level of high density lipoprotein and low level of low density lipoprotein that reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, etc" he said.
Hilsa alone contains a number of nutrients which can be available from various food items which makes it unique, he added.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said, "When people are not getting the protein rich item at fair price, why should the government make it costlier?".
The increase in Hilsa price will further fuel inflation in the country as it will lead to the rise of price of other fish varieties, he said.
Department of Fisheries officials said export ban has helped increase overall production of Hilsa as it has reduced unhealthy competition of catching mother Hilsa.
According to department, Hilsa production has increased to 0.391 million tonnes in FY 2012-13 from 0.346 million tonnes in FY'12.
