Fishermen in Chandpur face a dearth of river Ilish after the end of a two-month ban on catching the fish.
The shortage is believed to have been caused by unbridled river pollution, catching of jatka during the ban and a change in climate.
Because Ilish is scarce, it mostly remains beyond the affordability of people as prices are too high.
Abul Kashem, a fisherman in Haimchar, said he is disappointed at the shortage of river Ilish after the ban, which was officially lifted in May.
“There are days when we throw nets in the water and wait for the whole day but do not catch any.”
He also alleged mismanagement in the government assistance provided to fishermen during the ban.
Another fisherman of Puranbazar, Sushanta, said the shortage is very acute compared to in previous years.
“There is no fish and we are unable to make money to pay off debts. We are struggling to make ends meet,” he said.
President of Chandpur Fish Traders Association, Mizanur Rahman Kalu Bhuiyan, said the government had spent incredibly large sums as part of its initiatives to protect Ilish but they had not worked at the field level, resulting in the scarcity.
“Jatka has been netted uncontrollably and steps to prevent it have failed. Fishermen are also responsible for this as they received food assistance from the government but also netted jatka at the same time,” he said.
The trader alleged some unscrupulous public servants work in connivance with fishermen to net jatka, adding that failure to check this could worsen the problem.
The Chandpur fish terminal is a large wholesale Ilish market but the amount of fish traders are getting is below 12 maunds every day. At present, an Ilish weighing 700-800 grams is selling for Tk1,300-1,500 in the local markets.
Chandpur District Fisheries Officer, Shafiqur Rahman, said pollution in the Buriganga and the Shitalakshya Rivers is affecting the Meghna River.
But Dr Anisur Rahman, a researcher in Chandpur Fisheries Research Institute, said the paucity of Ilish in river at this time of the year is nothing unusual.
“A big chunk of jatka and Ilish moved to the sea during the ban, and will return to the river in July. Fishermen will net a lot in August and September,” he explained.