Hilsa fishing ban pushes up fish prices

Fish prices have surged by Tk 20-40 per kilogram in kitchen markets of Dhaka, causing people to pay more for their protein intake.

Besides, the prices of vegetables, onions, eggs, green chillies and potatoes have also increased, further burdening low-income consumers.

In the past week, the substantial spike in fish prices occurred on Thursday, coinciding with the beginning of a hilsa fishing ban in sanctuaries for conserving the mother hilsa. This ban will remain in effect until November 03.

Cultured varieties of pangas, koi, tilapia, ruhi, katla and pabda have seen price hikes ranging from Tk 20-40 per kilogram within a week.

Pangas was being retailed at Tk 260-320 per kilogram, varying in size. Cultured koi was between Tk 280 and Tk 350 per kilogram, while tilapia was between Tk 240 and Tk 300 per kilogram on Thursday.

Cultured ruhi and katla were at Tk 420-520 per kilogram, marking an additional increase of Tk 40 per kilogram.

Local ruhi, weighing above 2.5 kilograms, was at Tk 600-Tk 1150 per kilogram in different kitchen markets, with prices depending on the fish's size.

Shrimp was between Tk 750 and Tk 1,350 per kilogram, shoul at Tk 550-Tk 750, and local pabda and aair at Tk 800-Tk 1350 per kilogram, varying according to size.

Incessant rains across the country in early October led to further increases in the prices of summer vegetables throughout the week. Besides, eggs, potatoes and onions-which were already in the spotlight-saw further hikes in the past week, putting additional strain on people belonging to low and middle-income brackets.

Long aubergines on Thursday were being sold at Tk 100-120 per kg, while purple round aubergines (taal begun) were priced at Tk 140-150 per kg-marking a Tk 30-40 per kg increase in a week.

Pointed gourds were at Tk 80-90, bitter gourds at Tk 100-110, arum at Tk 100-120, cucumbers at Tk 80-90 per kg and okra at Tk 70-80 per kg. Green chillies were at Tk 240-280 per kg.

Azizul Hakim, a vegetable vendor at Rayer Bazar in the city, said prices had increased by Tk 20-25 per kg in wholesale markets in the last week.

Farm egg prices, which showed a downtrend between the last week of September and the beginning of October, started increasing again. A dozen eggs shot up to Tk 152-160 from Tk 140-150.

Egg producers cited a hike in day-old chick prices as well as a decline in production due to heavy rain as the reasons for the latest increase in egg prices.

Potato prices increased by Tk 5.0 per kg again, with white potatoes being sold at Tk 50-55 and red cardinals at Tk 60-65 per kg on that day.

Onion prices showed a Tk 10-20 per kg increase in a week, with local onions being sold at Tk 100-105 and imported Indian ones at Tk 80-90 per kg.

According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), onion prices soared by 10-15 per cent in a week while the current price is 85-105 per cent higher than that of a year back.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com