With Bangladesh banning Hilsa exports, price jumps in Kolkata and Delhi

CHENNAI: Kolkata's upmarket Ballygunge resident Amita Mukherjee just brought home a mammoth Hilsa shelling out Rs 3,500. "What to do? My family wants crisp Hilsa fries with Khichdi in this weather. As Bengalis it's a gastronomic ritual during the rains that we have to abide by. But the pocket pinch is really high," rues Mukherjee.

With the interim govt in Bangladesh banning the export of Hilsa from the Padma river to India, fish sellers back home are being forced to either import it illegally or sell the limited frozen stock at skyrocketing prices to cater to the ongoing festive demand. In the National Capital, a kg of Bangladeshi Hilsa is selling for Rs 3,000. Subsequently, restaurateurs are contemplating to hike up the rates of their festive menus that may cause deeper holes in the customers' pockets.

A fish shop owner at Delhi's CR Park Market 1, who didn't want to be identified, said he and many others are getting it illegally and selling it at Rs 3,000 per kg. " Durga Puja is coming, and Bengali customers want Hilsa. We have to cater to their demands," he said.

A fish wholesaler at Kolkata's famous Gariahat market echoed similar sentiments saying that he is selling hilsa at Rs 2,000 per kg with one fish being at least 1.5 kg in size. "The fish is illegally coming to India via secret channels. India is their biggest importer," he said on condition of anonymity. Prior to the ban, fresh Hilsa used to be sold for Rs 1,200 - Rs 1,500 a kilo in Kolkata and Delhi.

Qarim bhai of JK Fish stall, Adyar, the only vendor that sells Bangladeshi Hilsa in Chennai has taken out all his frozen stock that are selling like hot cakes - 100 kgs a week. He has hiked up the price from Rs 1,600 per kg to Rs 2,000 per kg. "The price will mellow down after a month, once festivities are over," he said.

Atri Kumar Sinha, owner of Chennai-based cloud kitchen Aahaar said, "The price of raw Hilsa is so high that I am being forced to sell one piece of Bhapa ilish (steamed hilsa in mustard sauce) for Rs 500, which I'd otherwise sell at Rs 350-Rs 400."

Talking to TOI, Santanu Halder, manager of the Koramangala branch of Bhojohari Manna, Bangalore, said, "We serve one piece per plate in three sizes - jumbo, super jumbo, and mini for Rs 460, Rs 505 and Rs 275 - respectively in various preparations like Bhapa, Barishali and Meghna. We are still contemplating if we will hike the prices based on the market conditions as the Hilsa rates are really peaking post the ban."