The production is more than the demand and even though it is a full season of fish, the price of fish is abnormal in the market of Ishwardi in Pabna. Prices of daily commodities, vegetables are also high. Because of this, middle class, poor and limited income people come to the market and buy daily products, knowing the fire price of fish, they return without buying fish. Fish sellers said that the increase in the price of fish is due to the increase in the cost of transportation due to the increase in the price of fuel oil.
According to the office of Ishwardi Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer, Ishwardi has 2 thousand 476 ponds, 1 river and various canals and lakes. The total amount of reservoir is 2 thousand 220 hectares. There are 9 fish markets. The number of registered fishermen in the upazila is 1 thousand 693 people. There are 1 thousand 517 fishermen. The annual fish demand in Ishwardi is 5 thousand 660.78 metric tons. Production is 5 thousand 745 metric tons. 85 metric tons of fish are produced more. However, the price of fish in Ishwardi market is unusual.
A sudden increase in the price of fuel last September led to an extraordinary increase in the prices of all kinds of daily commodities. That trend still continues. This has increased the suffering of the poor-middle class and people with limited income. They have to struggle to run their families. Due to lack of increase in income, market inventory has to be cut. Many people are doing monthly market by reducing the quantity. As a result, poor and middle class families are now in the most trouble. Like other daily commodities, the prices of almost all types of fish have increased in Ishwardi market. Fish is one of the essential food products. The price of that fish is also now beyond the purchasing power of middle class, limited income people. When they come to the market and hear the price, they turn away. And they don't dare to go near Hilsa, Manx. This picture can be seen yesterday Sunday morning by visiting Ishwardi Bazar.
Talking to two-three fish sellers, it is known that although the supply of fish in the market is good, the price is beyond the reach of the middle class and limited income people. A kilogram of roe fish was sold at 180 to 200 taka a month and a half ago. Now that rui is asking 260 to 280 taka per kg. The asking price of 1.5 to 2 kg cotton is Tk 320. Small sized laola (rui) was sold at Tk 110 to Tk 120 per kg but now it is being sold at Tk 180. Pangash and silver carp are known as poor people's fish, but due to the increase in price, they are struggling to buy those fish. Two months ago, pangash weighing one and a half to two kg was sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120 per kg. That pangash is now selling for 180 to 190 taka.
Similarly, the price of silver cup has also increased. 100 taka silver cups were seen to be sold at the price of 160 kg in Ishwardi market on Sunday. Apart from this, the price of Pabda 350, Shin 400 to 450 taka per kg is demanded. However, fish sellers are selling tilapia fish at the rate of Tk 120 per kg.
Meanwhile, the sale of hilsa fish has started from last Saturday after being closed for 22 days. A couple of vendors can be seen selling hilsa after frozen fish. The seller admitted the previous fish and demanded Tk 1200 per kg. And beef is being sold at Tk 620 per kg. Khasi is being sold at 700 to 720 taka. Middle class and low income people don't want to flock near because of the high price of meat and hilsa fish. Nizam Uddin, a construction worker of Rooppur project from Pierpur of the city, came to the market to buy fish. He put his hand on his head to ask the price of the fish. He has bought and eaten fish before. But not at such a price. He said, two months ago, he bought a kilogram of cotton fish for 160 to 170 taka. But now the asking price is 260 to 280 taka. He said, it is not possible for me to buy and eat fish with such a high price. A fish seller in the market said that all types of transport costs have increased due to the increase in fuel prices. Due to the increase in the cost of transporting fish from different parts of the country, not only rice, but every fish has increased in price. He also said that a few days ago even middle class and limited income people did not buy fish, but now they are not seen buying fish.
The prices of most daily commodities in the market are on the rise. Meanwhile, the prices of daily commodities have increased again and the suffering of the common people has increased. Rang mistri who came to the market expressed the helplessness of Pintu Sardar and said, what shall we do, to whom shall we complain. Life with children is becoming very difficult. If the price of goods increases without increasing income, then how to proceed? A trader in the market cannot buy beef since long ago. He said with pain that boys and girls like beef very much. But due to reduced income, I cannot buy meat even one day in a month. Altab Hossain, an autorickshaw driver, said, "Now I can't buy the household goods the way I used to buy them six months ago. The commodity is not marketed properly as the price is out of reach. Earlier it cost Tk 480 to buy five kg of bottled soybean oil, now it costs around Tk 900. To buy a 50 kg bag of rice for 1600 taka, now you have to count 2500 taka. To increase the price of other products, now we have to buy little by little and return home. Saiful Islam, another driver, said that the prices of goods are increasing. If the price of goods increases like this, how will we proceed? Life is becoming difficult.
Market fish seller Mujibur Rahman said that all types of transportation costs have increased due to the increase in the price of fuel oil. Due to this, the price of fish has also increased along with daily products. As hilsa fishing and sale was stopped for almost a month, hilsa sales started from Saturday. He said, now is the season of fish. The supply of Hilsa and other fish will increase in the market. This will reduce the price of fish.
