The price of ilish, the national fish of Bangladesh, has seen a sharp rise in Barisal's local markets following the start of its exports to India on Wednesday.
This comes at a time when adverse weather has made netting ilish in the sea difficult, shifting the focus to ilish caught in local rivers.
Barisal Fisheries Officer Bimal Chandra Das said after ilish exports to India began, the local price rose by Tk2,000 per maund on Thursday.
Per maund of ilish weighing 600-900 grams sold for Tk54,000 on Thursday, up from Tk52,000 on Wednesday, he added.
Ilish trader Abubakar acknowledged the sudden price rise, saying that ilish is now selling at Tk1,500 per kg, up from Tk1,300.
The price of ilish has also increased due to adverse weather, which has made catching the fish in the sea difficult, leading to a scarcity in the local market.
Despite an abundance of ilish in the local markets of Barisal, Bhola and Pathorghata, there is a scarcity of ilish in Alipur, Mahipur, or coastal areas’ local markets, according to Mahipur-based trader Fazlu Gazi.
However, Consumer Association of Bangladesh Barisal chapter Secretary Ranajit Dutta accused traders of artificially inflating ilish prices.
He warned that if prices continue to rise at this rate, ilish will become unaffordable for the common people.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Barisal's Port Road wholesale ilish market was bustling with activity as ilish was being prepared for exports.
Within 24 hours of receiving the order, 40 tons of ilish were exported from the Barisal region through Benapole, said Nirab Hossain Tutul, owner of Mahima Enterprises, an ilish exporting company in Barisal, which has permission to export the national fish to India.
He mentioned that the majority of ilish shipments will be from the Barisal region, with around 1,500 to 2,000 tons staying locally.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the Ministry of Commerce gave permission to some 79 enterprises to export some 3,950 tons of ilish to neighbouring India ahead of Durga Puja.
Exporters have been advised to complete all overseas shipments by October 11, as the Ministry of Fisheries on Wednesday announced a 22-day ban on ilish fishing from October 12 to November 2 to ensure safe spawning conditions for mature ilish.
Mohammad Zakir Hossain, deputy secretary at the Export Wing of the Ministry of Commerce, said exports must be completed by October 30, at a rate of $10 per kg, and each shipment should be limited to 50 tons.
He added that exports would be halted if any ban was imposed for any reason.