Fishermen, traders happy as hilsa abundant in Bay

Plenty of hilsa fish is being netted for the last several days in Patuakhali and Barguna districts, much to the happiness of fishermen and traders.

"Now we are very busy unloading trawlers coming from the Bay with hilsa for the first time in this season," said Abdus Salam, a fisherman of Bangladesh Fish Development Corporation at Pathorghata in Barguna district during this correspondent's visit to the spot on Saturday.

"Earlier we were frustrated due to unavailability of hilsa for long but now all including fishermen, trawler owners, traders, transport workers are happy as they are getting the opportunity to earn ahead of Eid," said Md Humayun, a fisherman.

Md Salim Akon, owner of a trawler, said hilsa has become available as there is heavy rainfall in the coastal areas for a couple of weeks.

"My fishermen caught around 9,000 hilsa fishes and it will be sold for Tk 18 lakh at the minimum," said Md Afzal, another trawler owner.

A fish warehouse at Patharghata. Photo: Star

Buyers from different areas across the country including Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Bogra and others places are coming to fish landing stations in Patuakhali and Barguna districts.

Now hilsa is selling for Tk 20,000 to 30,000 per maund, depending on its size.

Fishermen, traders, and transport workers are happy as they are getting plenty of hilsa for a few days, said Ansar Mollah, president of fish traders association in Mohipur, a famous fish landing station in Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali district.