[🇧🇩] Hilsha Diplomacy between Bangladesh & India

[Saif]

Do you want to obey to our government request? I say don't do that.

When somebody keeps your request, you cannot say they are obeying you. They are actually helping you.

 

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Hilsa price low in West Bengal than in Bangladesh

"One kilo of fish costs 2,600 taka—what is this! Even two kilos of mutton cost less than that!" "What can I do, sister? I even feel bad saying the price. But I have to buy them at a high price too." "This is just unacceptable!"

en.prothomalo.com

Hilsa price low in West Bengal than in Bangladesh

Partha Shankar Saha &
Amar SahaDhaka and Kolkata
Updated: 09 Aug 2025, 22: 28

Hilsa Prothom Alo

"One kilo of fish costs 2,600 taka—what is this! Even two kilos of mutton cost less than that!"

"What can I do, sister? I even feel bad saying the price. But I have to buy them at a high price too."

"This is just unacceptable!"

"You’re right, sister. I’ve been in the fish business for 17 years. I’ve never seen hilsa priced like this."

This was the exchange between hilsa fish seller Akhtaruzzaman and customer Nahida Islam at the fish market next to the Karwan Bazar rail gate in Dhaka at 11:15 am on Monday. A wholesale fish market operates here from early morning, and later, retail fish stalls line the adjacent pavement. These stalls are open all day, but their numbers increase in the evening.

Nahida, an employee at a private firm in Karwan Bazar, had come to buy fish during a break from work. She thought there would be fewer buyers at that time, and she might be able to get hilsa at a slightly lower price. But after hearing the price, she left without buying anything.

This scene is not unique to this Karwan Bazar fish market, same situation prevails in the markets such as Karwan Bazar kitchen market, Mohammadpur Market, and the Kolmilata Market in Bijoy Sarani. In many places, customers can be seen arguing loudly with hilsa sellers over prices, bargaining fiercely, and, in the end, the “lucky” ones managing to buy fish—though often in smaller quantities or lighter weights than they had intended. But most people simply leave without buying, unable to afford the price after hearing it.

This is not the first time the hilsa market is so overpriced. In this deeply unequal society, where hilsa has become a luxury item, it’s nothing new that only those with plenty of money can afford it. But many long-time sellers can’t remember prices ever being this high. Older customers, too—those who have been shopping in the market for decades—say they have never seen such prices for hilsa.

In Dhaka and across the country, hilsa is selling at higher prices than in any other year. The picture is quite different, however, in markets in West Bengal, India. A visit to markets there shows that hilsa prices this year are lower than in Bangladesh—the very country known for its abundance of hilsa.

Renowned Bangladeshi hilsa expert Anisur Rahman has called this “very unfortunate.” For almost a decade, the fishing ban during hilsa breeding season has played a key role in increasing production. Anisur Rahman, who led the scientific research that determined the timing of the ban, told Prothom Alo, “This year’s hilsa prices are truly abnormal. This country has an abundance of hilsa, yet such high prices cannot be justified.”

Same fishing ban period with India
Until recently, Bangladesh’s fishing ban in its territorial waters—aimed at ensuring the free breeding of various marine species and protecting juvenile hilsa—was in force from 20 May to 23 July. For Indian fishermen, the ban was from 15 April to 13 June. This created a situation where Bangladeshi fishermen stayed idle during their ban period, while Indian fishermen could still catch fish.

To address this problem, Bangladeshi fishermen had long demanded that the ban periods be coordinated with India’s. Responding to this demand, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a new directive aligning the fishing ban period with India’s, setting it from 15 April to 11 June in Bangladesh starting this year. However, experts remain skeptical about how beneficial this change will be.

The photo shows a man throwing ice on hilsa on a truck. File photo

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one expert said, “I practically had no choice but to agree to the new ban timeline in the government’s meeting. The timeline we had proposed was more scientifically sound. It would have been better if the matter had been discussed and decided at a policy-making level between the two countries.” According to him, simply aligning the ban period with India’s, without proper discussion, leaves the ultimate benefits uncertain.

Hilsa markets in Bangladesh and West Bengal

Hilsa is beloved by Bengalis—whether they live in Bangladesh, India, or anywhere else in the world. Like in Bangladesh, hilsa is caught in India’s seas and adjacent rivers. Among Indian states, West Bengal’s coastal areas yield more hilsa than others, though still far less than Bangladesh. This year, however, hilsa prices in Kolkata and elsewhere in West Bengal are comparatively lower than in Bangladesh.

In Dhaka’s retail markets, even small hilsa weighing 500 grams cost between Tk 1,450 and Tk 1,600 per kilo. The same picture is seen in multiple markets. From July through the first week of August, hilsa weighing 750–800 grams have been selling at Tk 1,850 to Tk 2,000 per kilo, while one-kilo or larger fish start at Tk 2,600 and go up to Tk 3,200 depending on size.

Karwan Bazar fish trader Md Suman told Prothom Alo on Thursday that Hilsa weighing 500 grams or more are selling at Tk 1,400 to Tk 1,600 per kilo. For those over 700 grams, the price rises to Tk 1,800–2,000. Over 800 grams go for Tk 2,100–2,200, one-kilo fish are Tk 2,400, and the 1.5-kilo ones sell for Tk 2,800 per kilo.”

This year, our Bay of Bengal coastal areas have a relatively lower supply of hilsa. Still, to keep the hilsa market stable, hilsa from Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River is coming into the state----Atul Das, President, Fish Importers’ Association in Kolkata.

Prothom Alo’s Kolkata correspondent visited several markets in Kolkata and Howrah. There, a 500-gram hilsa sells for RS 600–750—about Tk 1,050—meaning such fish are at least Tk 400 per kilo cheaper in West Bengal than in Bangladesh. In West Bengal’s markets, hilsa weighing over 700 grams are priced at RS 1,200–1,300 per kilo (Tk 1,600–1,800), while one-kilo fish sell for RS 1,500–1,800 (Tk 2,000–2,500).

Atul Das, president of the Fish Importers’ Association in Kolkata, told Prothom Alo, “This year, our Bay of Bengal coastal areas have a relatively lower supply of hilsa. Still, to keep the hilsa market stable, hilsa from Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River is coming into the state.”

He added that these hilsa, weighing over one kilo, are selling at RS 1,500 rupees per kilo, while larger hilsa (1–2 kilos) from the Gujarat and Mumbai coasts sell slightly cheaper at RS 1,000 per kilo. Locally caught hilsa over one kilo, however, are relatively expensive— RS 1,700–1,800 per kilo. Most hilsa in the market now are from Myanmar.

No Bangladeshi hilsa have been exported to West Bengal so far this year. But Bangladeshi hilsa are highly prized there, with both traders and consumers eagerly awaiting them. Atul Das said, “We want the Bangladesh government to export hilsa after 15 August this year as well. We have already appealed for this.”

Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, told Prothom Alo on today, Saturday, “I’ve heard that India has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Commerce requesting hilsa exports… I haven’t personally received anything. I only read about the proposal in the newspaper.”​

 

[Saif]

Why is hilsa out of reach?

The interim government's decision to increase food aid through vulnerable group feeding assistance during the lean days of ban on fishing to the fishermen families is a commendable move. Notably, the fishing ban comes on two occasions for 22 days between October 12 and November 2 to protect m

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Why is hilsa out of reach?

SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Aug 10, 2025 22:47
Updated :
Aug 10, 2025 22:47

The interim government's decision to increase food aid through vulnerable group feeding assistance during the lean days of ban on fishing to the fishermen families is a commendable move. Notably, the fishing ban comes on two occasions for 22 days between October 12 and November 2 to protect mother hilsas so they can spawn and for 58 days between April 15 and June 11 in the Bay of Bengal to help preserve marine biodiversity, ensure safe breeding and replenishment of fish stocks, particularly hilsa during its breeding season.

So far, each fishermen family has been getting at the rate of 25 kg of rice per month during the 22-day ban on hilsa catching and 40 kg of rice per month for 58-day ban on all types of fishing in the Bay. But now, according to the decision of the Department of Fisheries, it has been proposed that the quantity of rice for the fishermen during the 58-day ban would be increased to 50 kg per month. In a similar fashion, for 22-day ban, too, the rice amount would be increased proportionally for the fishermen families to protect their livelihoods. Undeniably, such steps would help the fisherfolk to somehow scrape through the difficult days without work.

Evidently, the measures have been introduced to control overfishing which has been behind the near depletion of te indigenous fish stocks. Triggered by rainfall and floods, hilsa migrates to our rivers from the Bay of Bengal to breed during the monsoon season, especially between July and September. Such upstream migration of hilsa also takes place from January to March. But predatory, illegal fishing using trawlers and nets with small size mesh such as gilll net (current net), drift gell net (gulti/kona jal), monofilament gill nets (current jal) and seine nets (ber jal), etc., has been threatening the existence of not only hilsa but also other popular local fish species.

Adult hilsa stock started to dwindle as its juvenile members (jatka) were being caught recklessly by the fishermen.

The successive governments have been using bans, strict action with the help of the administration, local government and Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) to stop illegal and predatory fishing. Helping fishing families with food support during the period when fishing is restricted is essentially a kind of incentive so they do not engage in illegal fishing. No doubt, all these actions have been of substantial help to protect the country's indigenous fishery resources, particularly the hilsa stock. However, from time to time reports appear in the media about the dire prospect of hilsa due to river pollution, climate change, possible changes in migratory behaviour of the fish and so on. And, indeed, there are often reports of poor catch in the sea and rivers and delays in harvesting season. But at the end of the day, hilsa finally appears in large numbers to the relief of the fish merchants, though not to the general consumers.

So, we still witness abundant supply of hilsa in the capital city's wholesale markets like Karwan Bazar and other hilsa wholesale markets in the country such as Chandpur Boro Station in Chandpur town and Barisal Port Road Hilsa Market. Of course, this testifies to the success of the government measures to protect this national fish from disappearing from our rivers and the Bay.

However, what is the use of having a lot of hilsa in the market, if the general consumers cannot afford it? Should this commodity not also follow the law of supply and demand? But no, to all appearances, hilsa in Bangladeshi markets does not go by this universal rule. For it is always selling at extortionate prices, regardless of the supply situation. The price is forever sky-high, come hell or high water. Why is this strange behaviour of the hilsa market that deprives the common consumers of this national fish? According to reports, this season, hilsa is selling at far higher prices in Bangladeshi markets than in West Bengal of India. Why this should be the case, when the West Bengal's hilsa market depends largely on the supply from Bangladesh whether through official or unofficial channels.

Sometimes the argument put forward by some experts was that it is the difference in the timing of fishing ban between Bangladesh and West Bengal that caused this strange price differences. For instance, in the beginning, Bangladesh authorities would place the fishing ban from May 20 to July 23, while for Indian fishermen, it was between April 15 and June 13. That means, the Indian fishermen were catching hilsa one month ahead of their Bangladeshi counterparts. Obviously, Bangladeshi fishing community was put at a disadvantage vis-à-vis it's the Indian one. And this might have some impact on the pricing of hilsa, though it could not explain exactly why there should be such pricing anomaly when the volume of hilsa catch in Bangladesh waters is far greater than that in West Bengal. However, in the face of demand for aligning the fishing ban regime with that of India, from this year the ban was imposed between April 15 and June11. But has it made any difference so far as price of hilsa in Bangladeshi markets this season amid profusion of supply is concerned? Recent media reports say, a small sized (500-gram) hilsa costs between Tk.1,450 and Tk.1,600 per kg in the capital's retail markets.

And those weighing between 700 and 800 grams are selling between Tk.1800 and Tk.2,000 per kg. For hilsas of larger size, weighing 1kg or more, the price rises from Tk.2,000 per kg to Tk.3,200 a kg, subject to the whims of the hilsa traders. But in the Kolkata markets of West Bengal, a 500-gm hilsa costs between Indian Rupee, INR600 and INR750, which is equivalent to between Bangladesh Taka BDT834 and BDT1042.50 (at the rate of I INR=1.39BDT). Compared to Kolkata prices, the hilsa is between 153 per cent and 174 per cent pricier in Dhaka markets. For hilsas of larger size, the prices escalate proportionately. Clearly, it is yet another syndicate we are talking about that is in control of the hilsa market to the dismay of general consumers. Even two to three decades back, the picture was quite different, particularly in the capital's retail fish markets. Hilsa, though a popular delicacy, it was not among the priciest fishes in the market, despite its supply shortage and low production. It was rather cheap and affordable to the people in the low-income bracket. But things began to change about decade back when prices of hilsa began to rise disproportionately, though its supply increased significantly, thanks to various government measures. But then what's the use of abundant catch of hilsa, if it remains beyond the common people's reach?​