Pirojpur Correspondent:

Fishermen are casting nets in the rivers every day, burdened with debt, but they are not seeing the desired hilsa. Even in the peak season, hilsa is not seen in the rivers of Pirojpur, and the fishermen are spending their days in despair. Local fishermen say that hilsa has become empty in the rivers due to fishing with jhatka and illegal nets. If the jatka is not properly protected, this district will lose its tradition of hilsa in the future. The main rivers of Pirojpur are Kaliganga, Kacha, and Baleshwar.

From a distance, it seems that fishermen with rows of boats are busy harvesting hilsa, delicious hilsa from Kacha and Kali Ganga are being caught in droves, but when you go near the fishermen, the real picture emerges. Even though the fishermen have been casting nets for two or three days, they have not seen the expected hilsa. Occasionally, one or two hilsa are seen, but they are very small in size, and the fishermen feel a frown on their foreheads.

With only boats and nets, fishermen return home disappointed even though they cast nets in the hope of catching the desired hilsa to earn a living. There are several rivers in the southern district of Pirojpur, including Kacha, Kaliganga, Baleswar, and Sandhya. A few years ago, hilsa was caught in large numbers in these rivers, but now fishermen are not seeing the desired hilsa in their nets. When we went to the estuaries of Kaliganga and Kacha rivers in Pirojpur, we saw that fishermen are busy catching hilsa, but even after casting nets for a long time, they do not see the desired hilsa even after lifting the nets after a certain time.

Talking to some fishermen, it was learned that fishermen have been casting nets like this for the past few days, but they are not catching the desired hilsa in their nets, and they are spending their days in despair. Meanwhile, one or two people who did not get the desired fish said that they have to go without food with their families and are also under the pressure of NGO installments. The number of hilsa in the river has decreased due to illegal fishing by some fishermen. However, if the fisheries authorities take the right initiative, there is a possibility of fish being found in the river again. The hilsa market in Pirojpur is located at both ends of the famous Charkhali ferry ghat.

Locals of Bhandaria, Charkhali, Mathabaria, as well as passengers going to Khulna and Barisal, cannot control their greed after seeing the hilsa market and buy hilsa. Currently, due to the lack of hilsa in Pirojpur, there is not enough hilsa in this market either. Buyers who come to buy hilsa often return empty-handed. Although some hilsa is available here, the price is skyrocketing. Hilsa weighing 1 to 1.5 kg is sold for 2600 to 3200 taka per kg. Hilsa weighing 500 grams to 1 kg is sold for 1400 to 2400 taka. Which is beyond the purchasing power of the common man.

Due to the lack of sufficient hilsa in the river and its high price, the people of this district are not able to enjoy hilsa. Locals demand proper conservation of jatka and necessary measures and an investigation into the reasons for charging high prices for hilsa. Locals say that the rivers of this district have become empty of hilsa due to illegal nets and jatka fishing. The steps taken by the District Fisheries Department to conserve hilsa are not enough. The amount of fish that was caught in nets a few years ago is not seen now. Even after casting nets all day, hilsa is not seen. Although some hilsa is available in the market, the price is beyond the purchasing power of the common man.

Most people of this district are away from the taste of hilsa only because of the price. Mahtab Uddin, who came to catch hilsa in the Kaliganga River, said, we used to get a lot of fish earlier, but we have not been getting fish like before for a few years. One of the reasons for not getting fish is that hilsa is not available at present due to fishing with various illegal nets including barrier nets, chargaras, current nets. We have to return home without catching fish after casting nets all day. Often, the family has to go without food. On top of this, there is an NGO installment. Now there is no other option but to run away from home. If the government does not take strict steps to preserve the Jatka, there will be no more fish in this river.

Fisherman Abdul Jalil said, the obstacles kill the fish in the nets, that is why we do not get Hilsa. Currently, it is the peak season for Hilsa, but Hilsa is not being caught in the nets. There are no Hilsa in the river like before. Rahima Begon, who came to buy Hilsa at Pirojpur Bekutia Hilsa Market, said, I thought that this year good Hilsa would be available and the price would be within reach, but that did not happen. On top of this, the price of Hilsa is much higher than last year. The fish that I bought for 1000 taka last year, this year the same weight of fish is 600 to 700 taka more per kg. Which is beyond the purchasing power of the common people.

Content creator Hasif came to buy fish at Bekutia Hilsa Market, he said, currently the price of fish is very high. I bought two fish, one kg weighed 600 grams. The price has been set at 2700 taka. The price of fish seems high. Hilsa seller Malek Hawlader said, currently, fishermen are not getting the amount of fish they are supposed to get. That is why the price of fish is a little high. The price of fish is not within the purchasing power of the middle class and poor people. The price is a little high because of the low fish in the market.

Last year, the price of fish per kilogram was around 1600 taka, but this year the price has increased to around 2400 to 2500 taka. Hilsa seller Saiful Islam said, fishermen are not getting hilsa even in the peak season. One or two are small in size. Sometimes a few fish are found, but that is only a little. I am not seeing the amount of fish that I saw at this time last year. That is why the price is a little high. District Fisheries Officer Sanjeev Sannamat said, there was no shortage of fish in the rivers of Pirojpur earlier, due to which sufficient hilsa was found.