For any Bengali, Hilsa the king of all fish, is a must in the diet but the monsoon had let down their taste buds as the prices were prohibitive and the delicacy was skipped from meals. The prices were as high as Rs 800 to Rs 1200 per kilo of the fish which only led the Bengali households to keep waiting for the prices to comedown.

Many people are complaining that the prices of Hilsa are unaffordable.  A businessmen who sells fish said that in the 15 years of his sales, never had he seen such high prices for the fish. He also expressed his concern that the high prices have had a drastic lowering effect on his sales.

He spoke for the people saying that the fish that used to sell for Rs 400- 500 a kilo is now being sold for twice the price. “How can anyone buy?" he asks.
The price hike is a mishmash of several factors like the ban on export in Bangladesh, bad monsoons and lowered rupee value.

The scenario is expected to light up after Eid, however. Abu Hena, the Fisheries Minister said that the ban on Export in Bangladesh is to be lifted after Ramadan and that would lower the prices.

Till then the Bengalis who consider the fish a delicacy and an important item in their tradition and identity will have to wait. With the prices extremely high this year, the tradition had been restricted to the affluent Bengalis.

(AW- Anil)