Hilsa becomes dear ahead of Pahela Baishakh (1418) in Bangladash

Price of hilsa has shot up in the coastal region ahead of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year 1418. 
Small-size hilsa is selling at Tk 1200 per kg which was Tk 350-400 a month ago.
Abdul Jabbar, a wholesaler of Katpatti area in Patuakhali town, said, "A one-kg hilsa is selling for Tk 12,00-1,400 whereas it was sold for Tk 330-400 only a month ago."
Local traders have supplied hilsa to the capital because of its high demand there ahead of Pahela Baishakh, he added.Babu, another hilsa trader of Rangabali in Galachipa upazila, said, "Fishermen are busy catching large quantities of hilsa to make more money banking on Pahela Baishakh, but most of them are frustrated due to poor catch of this delicious fish.”
Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of Barguna District Fishing Trawler Association, said, "Price of hilsa increases on local markets ahead of Pahela Baishakh."
"Five to six truckloads if hilsa are going to Dhaka and other places from Bangladesh Fish Development Centre (BFDC) in Pathorghata every day", he added.
UNB from Lalmonirhat reports: Tonnes of hilsa are being smuggled to India ahead of Pahela Baishakh through different points in five upazilas of the bordering district every day.
Pahela Baishakh is celebrated with fried hilsa and rice in both Bangladesh and India`s West Bengal and parts of Assam and Tripura states.
More than 31 fish traders are involved in smuggling in Burimari land port, Hatibandha and Moghulghat to do brisk business because of high demand of hilsa in India ahead of Pahela Baishakh.
Local sources said a quartet of hilsa is sold at several thousand rupees in West Bengal on Pahela Baishakh.
Banking on Baishakh, unscrupulous fish traders bring hilsa in trucks and trains from Goalando of Rajbari, Chandpur and Barisal. Each hilsa is sold at an exorbitant price in Lalmonirhat town as bulk of fish is smuggled to India.
Meanwhile, a mobile court in Bhola on Sunday sentenced four fishermen to jail terms ranging from one month to three months for catching jatka (hilsa fry).
The convicts are faruk, 45, Babul, 35,kamal 25, and Heju, 32, of Tulatoli.
District Fisheries Department sources said a mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Rezaul Karim conducted a drive in the Meghna and arrested the four with 10 maunds of jatka and 2,000 metres current net.