Following the direction district administration, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) conducted a raid at the Haji Shariatullah ilish market in Faridpur on Thursday.
After the raid, the prices of ilish dropped by Tk150 to 200 per kg depending on the type.
Even during the peak season for ilish, the market syndicate had kept the prices out of reach for buyers, leading to public dissatisfaction.
Consumers complained that the market system was still trapped in the syndicate's grip and urged the local administration to take swift action.
During the raid, retail traders complained: “While wholesalers buy ilish fish at 42 to 43 kg per mound, they sell it to us at 40 kg per mound. Such practices are not seen in other fish markets. If we protest, the wholesalers stop supplying fish to us.”
Retail fish sellers Rashed Sheikh and Alamgir Hossain said: “If wholesalers provided 2 to 3 kg more per mound like in other districts, the prices would have been lower here as well.”
Sohel Sheikh, assistant director of DNCRP in Faridpur, stated: “We had been receiving complaints about the ilish syndicate for the past few days. That’s why we conducted a raid to assess the market situation.We found various issues in the market. Initially, we warned the traders. However, two wholesalers (Durga Fish Store and Rupali Hilsa) have been fined Tk40,000 each, totaling Tk80,000.”
The raid in the ilish market was assisted by members of the Ansar Battalion and students.
Advisor: No ilish export to India for Durga PujaAfter the raid, customers Mustafa Rahman, Professor Abul Kashem, and Professor Belal Hossain reported that before the raid, the price of ilish was between Tk1,800 and 1,900 per kg, but it has now dropped to Tk1,500 to 1,600 per kg. They mentioned that such monitoring needs to happen periodically to protect consumers from unscrupulous traders.”
Similarly, buyers BK Sikder, Litu Sikder, and Mahua Akter said: “We often see fish prices drop on Facebook and in newspapers, but the reality in the market is often different. However, due to today’s raid by the DNCRP, many buyers were able to purchase ilish at comparatively lower prices, with prices dropping by Tk200 per kg or more.”
