Hilsa soars to Tk 2,600, Pangasius no longer affordable
In Dhaka’s New Market fish hub, the familiar scent of fresh catch mingles with growing frustration. What was once a routine grocery run has turned into a financial reckoning for many. Over the past few days, fish prices across the capital have surged dramatically – and at the heart of the storm are two iconic species: the royal Hilsa, and the humble Pangasius, long known as the “poor man’s fish.”
The crown jewel of Bengali cuisine, Hilsa (Ilish), is now commanding prices that few middle-class families can afford.
At New Market on Friday afternoon, Hilsa weighing over one kilogram was being sold for as much as Tk 2,600 per kilogram – a price that has left regular consumers stunned.
“I came to buy some Hilsa for a family lunch, but when I saw the price, I nearly walked away,” said Harun Ahmed, a schoolteacher and regular fish buyer. “It used to be special-occasion food. Now, even that occasion feels too expensive.”
Once a staple during festivals and everyday meals alike, Hilsa has become increasingly inaccessible. Vendors attribute the spike to reduced supply from rivers and estuaries, particularly from the Padma and Meghna, where catch volumes have dipped due to erratic weather patterns and overfishing. Continuous rainfall over the past week has further disrupted transportation and market supply chains, compounding the scarcity.
Even more telling is the rising cost of Pangasius, a farmed fish that earned its nickname as the “fish for the poor” due to its affordability and wide availability. But now, large Pangasius is being sold for Tk 280 per kilogram – a significant jump from the TK 180-200 range just a month ago.
“This isn’t just about Hilsa anymore,” said Rubayet, a fish vendor at New Market. “Even the cheaper fish are getting expensive. I brought a small batch today, and most of it sold quickly. But people are complaining – they’re not buying as much.”
For low- and middle-income households, the price hike in Pangasius marks a turning point. Traditionally seen as a budget-friendly protein source, its rising cost signals a broader crisis in food affordability.
A walk through the New Market fish stalls reveals a troubling trend across species: Katla (6 kg):Tk 700 /kg; Katla (10-11 kg): Tk 850 /kg; Small shrimp: TK 600-700/kg; Bronze Featherback (Foli or Folui): Tk 450/kg; Pabda:Tk 450/kg; and Tilapia: Tk 220/kg.
Vendors point to a confluence of factors behind the surge: reduced supply, persistent rain, and disrupted logistics. “The rain since morning has kept buyers away,” said one seller. “But the real issue is the fish isn’t coming in like before. We’re getting smaller shipments, so prices go up.”