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Expert: Ilish Will Be Tastier This Year

This year, people will get more tasty Ilish on their plates thanks to a decrease in river pollution due to the suspension of river transport for many months amid coronavirus pandemic, says an expert.

Dr. Anisur Rahman, a renowned Ilish expert at the Fisheries Research Institute in Chandpur, came up with the information while talking to the media.

"We analyzed the water in the river and noticed that the number of pollutants in the river had declined owing to the suspension of the flow of riverboats in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The state of the river was very congenial to the abundance of fish food. Therefore, this year's Ilish will be tastier, more flavorful," he said.

Ilish has now become available in local markets due to the increase in the water and rain rates of the rivers, though August, September and October are the peak periods for Ilish, he said.

"This year, a total of 550,000 tons of Ilish is estimated to be generated as a result of a productive drive against illegal jatka (Ilish fries) in the river, which is more than the previous year," said Dr. Anisur.

In Chandpur, it was found that Boro Station fish market, the largest wholesale fish market, was flooded with Ilish.  

However, the price is high as per kg Ilish is selling at Tk300 to Tk400 in retail markets. 

Abdul Khalek, a trader in the fish market, said: "Ilish is pricier as a big size of the fish is selling at Tk1,750 per kg." 

In the local fish markets, one kg Ilish is selling at Tk1,000 while 800 grams at Tk700 to Tk800, and a half kg Ilish at Tk500 to Tk600. 

Covid-19 hits turnout of customers

Traders also said they are now facing some problems for lack of customers following the coronavirus situation.  

People from various parts of the country, including Dhaka, used to come to the fish market through launch, motorbike, train and other local vehicles to buy Ilish but the number of customers is now low due to the Covid-19 outbreak. 

Rabbi, a fish trader, said they are now passing an idle time due to lack of customers and sale of packets and cartons used for carrying fish from one place to another is also poor. 

Visiting the Boro Station fisheries ghat, it was found a large number of fishing trawlers and pickup vans coming to the ghat carrying Ilish netted from the coastal areas of Bhola, Char Fashion, Alexzandar, Hatia, Kamalnagar in Lakshmipur and the adjacent areas.

Abdul Khalek, president of Matshya Banik Shamity, said, "Ilish has been coming to the ghat area through trawlers and trucks because they have been in the river for the last four to five days. The workers spend a busy time loading and unloading fish from day to night, as 2,000 to 3,000 Ilish maunds are traded from the ghat every day."

Traders, mainly from Karwan Bazar, Azampur, Bypile, Pubail, Gazipur, Kishoreganj, Tangail, and Mymensingh, are coming to the region and buying their fish from the wholesale market along the ghat road.

Sahabuddin Sardar, a trader, said, "We have purchased Ilish from the ghat region and are selling it in various parts of the country."

Meanwhile, Ilish production has jumped from 298,000 tons in 2008-09 fiscal to almost 500,000 tons in 2017-18, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

Source: UNB

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