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Almost all species of fishes, including Hilsa, and edible oil became costlier last week increasing sufferings of the consumers who were hit hard by price hike of many other essential commodities.
Prices of fish witnessed a notable increase which the traders mainly attributed to the fishing ban imposed by the government in some sanctuaries that led to a decline in supply of the protein item.
The Department of Fisheries (DoF) imposed a two-month-long ban on fishing in selected areas of five major sanctuaries under six southern districts from March 1.
The ban is aimed at protecting Hilsa and other fishes during their breeding season in order to increase the production, DoF officials told the FE.
The ban would end on April 30 which is covering 392 kilometres of Ilisha, Meghna, Tentulia, Bishkhali and Padma rivers in Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Shariatpur, Chandpur and Lakshmipur districts.
Prices of most fish species, especially those of river, increased, both traders and consumers told the FE.
Hilsa, pabda, shrimp, ruhi, katla, shoul, kajoli, batasi, bele, increased by Tk 50-200 per kilogram (kg) in the last seven days.
Cultured koi, ruhi, katla and pangasea also witnessed a Tk 20-30 hike at per kg in the week.
Indigenous varieties ruhi (over 2.0 kg in weight) was sold at Tk 450-600 a kg and katla at Tk 400-Tk 550 a kg in Karwan Bazar and Dhanmondi area of the city on Thursday.
Despite the ban, frozen Hilsa was found in the markets but in a tinny volume.
Hilsa was selling at Tk 650-950 a kg based on size in few city markets.
Shrimp of different sizes and quality was selling at Tk 500-1,000 a kg and pabda Tk 500-850 on the day.
Jatrabari-based trader Md Abu Bakkar Siddique said Sirajganj, Natore, Mymensingh, Chandpur, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barishal, Cox’s Bazar, Chattagram, Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira are the major fish hubs of Bangladesh.
“Prices normally go up if fish supply from a few of these districts declines,” he said.
He said high prices of fish will persist following the 60-day fishing ban in the southern fish producing belt.
Prices of loose soybean oil, which showed a slight decline in February, increased again.
According to the state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), loose soybean oil prices increased to Tk 90 per litre from Tk 88 a litre a week back.
However, onion prices declined to Tk 70-75 a kg last week from Tk 80-90 earlier.
Traders said neighbouring India’s decision to withdraw the export ban on the cooking ingredient helped ease onion prices in Bangladesh.
(FE)
