BARGUNA, March 28, (V7N) — A large hilsa fish weighing 1.765 kg was sold for Tk 7,500 at the Patharghata BFDC Fisheries Port in Barguna on Saturday morning, amid soaring demand ahead of Pahela Baishakh.

The prized catch, brought to Munni Fish Shop, sparked an open bidding among wholesalers before merchant Alhaj Zakir Hossain purchased it as the highest bidder. The fish, caught in the Baleshwar River, has already been sent to Dhaka for resale.

Local trader Imran Hossain said supply in the market is currently very low, with almost no fish being caught at sea. “The demand for large hilsa has increased significantly ahead of Pahela Baishakh, which has pushed prices up several times,” he noted. Smaller jatka hilsa are also fetching high prices, around Tk 60,000 per maund.

Patharghata Upazila Fisheries Officer Hasibul Haque said the government will impose a 58‑day ban on deep‑sea fishing next month to ensure reproduction and growth. “If fishermen follow the ban properly, the amount of fish in the sea and rivers will increase, and more large hilsa will be available in the future,” he added.

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