After hilsa, its roe prices soar – Tk 6,000 per kg
Photo: Agamir Somoy
At the historic Baro Station fish market in Chandpur – known as the capital of hilsa – it's not just hilsa fish that has seen a price hike; the price of hilsa eggs (roe) has also increased. Due to much lower supply compared to demand, the price of hilsa roe this season has nearly doubled compared to last year.
While visiting the Baro Station fish market today (Wednesday), it was observed that per kilogram of hilsa roe is currently being sold for Tk 5,500 to Tk 6,000, which has put it well beyond the reach of ordinary buyers.
Traders at the market said that at the same time last year, hilsa roe was sold for Tk 2,500 to Tk 3,000 per kilogram. But this year, the number of roe-bearing hilsa has dropped significantly, creating a shortage of roe in the market. As a result, prices have nearly doubled in a short period.
Traders also cited that peoples' interest in hilsa roe is increasing day by day. In particular, many buyers from different parts of the country come to Chandpur's Baro Station fish market specifically to buy hilsa roe. However, because supply cannot meet demand, prices remain high.
Fish trader Nahid Hossain said, "In other years, we used to get many more roe-bearing hilsa. But this year, the quantity of roe-bearing hilsa is very low. We cannot supply roe according to the demand of buyers. Basically, due to high demand and low supply, the price of roe has increased alongside the price of hilsa."
Another trader, Nabin Hossain, said, "Earlier, almost every trader at the market used to have hilsa roe available. But now, since roe-bearing hilsa are arriving in fewer numbers, only two to three traders are selling roe. Because of this shortage, it is currently selling for Tk 5,000 to Tk 6,000 per kg. Meanwhile, one-kilogram hilsa fish are selling for Tk 2,800 to Tk 3,000. If the supply of hilsa increases in the coming days, the price of roe may drop somewhat."
On the other hand, despite the high prices, many buyers are still purchasing hilsa roe for its taste. However, many ordinary buyers say that buying hilsa roe regularly at the current price is not possible for them. They hope that if the supply of roe-bearing hilsa increases in the market, prices will return to normal levels.
Shobe Borat Sarkar, General Secretary of the Chandpur Fishermen's Cooperative Association, said, "Currently, we are getting no more than 20 to 25 kg of hilsa roe per day. The roe collected from hilsa is preserved separately. Earlier, this roe used to be supplied to various districts across the country, but now due to the limited quantity, most of it is sold right at the market. Compared to last year, there isn't even one-third of the roe available in the market this year. Buyers come to Chandpur from different parts of the country to buy hilsa roe, but every day we cannot meet the demand."
He added, "I hope that if the supply of hilsa increases in the coming days, the roe shortage will ease somewhat, and alongside hilsa, the price of roe will also come down to a more tolerable level."
