Prices of fish, which got costlier during the onset of Ramadan increased further last week which traders attributed to the ongoing 2-month fishing ban in Hilsa sanctuaries.
Besides fish, other essentials, including onion and lentil, also witnessed a slight hike in prices in the week further battering the inflation-hit commoners.
Prices of most of fish species showed a notable hike as both river and cultured fishes got pricier by Tk 40 to Tk 150 per kg in the last seven days, according to kitchen market traders.
Shrimp price increased to Tk 650-1,100 a kg depending on quality and size.
Small riverine shrimp was retailed at Tk 850-950 a kg while bigger ones at Tk 950-1,100 a kg in the city on Friday. Cultured shrimp was sold at Tk 650-900 a kg on the day.
A popular little fish, 'kanchki' which became rare in the market recently, was sold at Tk 750-800 a kg by a few vendors yesterday. Hilsa prices hit Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,650 a kg depending on sizes while river Ruhi and Katla were sold at Tk 500-750 a kg.
Only Shoul and Pabda prices remained static in the week as were retailed at Tk 500-650 and Tk 400-650 a kg respectively, said vendors.
Cultured Ruhi and Katla were retailed at Tk 300-450 a kg depending on sizes.
Prices of cultured Koi, Boal, Aeer, Kalibaus, pangasea, tilapia and carp fishes also showed the same trend in the past week.
Din Mohammad, a fish vendor at Dhanmondi 15 in the city, said prices of all kinds of fishes witnessed a notable hike in the city's Karwan Bazar, Jatrabari and Shwarighat wholesale markets.
Riverine shrimp and Kanchki witnessed maximum hike in prices --- Tk 100-150 a kg at the wholesales, he noted.
Supply of Hilsa has also declined substantially as was sold at Tk 1,000-1,400 a kg at the wholesales based on size, he added.
Gafur Uddin Sarker, a fish trader of Jatrabari area, said that the price had increased a few weeks ago as the two-month-long fishing ban began from March 1 in five Hilsa sanctuaries.
The ban pushed up fish prices further as fishing of all species has been banned in those water bodies that meet over 30 per cent of the fish demand.
The jurisdiction of the restriction, aiming to ensure Hilsa conservation, covers five Hilsa sanctuaries in six districts, including Barishal, Chandpur, Lakshmipur, Bhola, Shariatpur and Patuakhali, according to the Department of Fisheries (DoF).
Fish trader Sarker said fish prices might remain higher until the end of the Hilsa fishing ban on April 30.
DoF data showed the country produced more than 4.7 million tonnes of fishes last year of which Hilsa comprises almost 12 per cent.
Prices of other protein items, including poultry birds, got costlier too in the week. Pakistani, indigenous and Sonali chicken witnessed a Tk 20-50 a kg hike in the period.
Pakistani variety big sized poultry was sold at Tk 320-340 a kg at the retails while Sonali at Tk 280-300 a kg.
Indigenous variety was sold at Tk 530-600 a kg marking a record high while another Pakistani poultry bird which is reared as indigenous, also became pricier.
Onion prices witnessed a hike by Tk 5.0 per kg and were retailed at Tk 35-40 a kg.
Meanwhile, beef and Khasi (meat of castrated male goat) prices remained static at their previous highs as were retailed at Tk 660-700 and Tk 950-1000 a kg in different city areas.
