Md Atiqur Rahman Eshte, Barguna 

Fishermen across Barguna's coastal belts, including Patharghata, Amtali, and Taltali upazilas, are facing severe distress due to a sharp decline in Hilsa catches as the peak fishing season draws to a close ahead of a mandatory 22-day government ban.

The nationwide ban on catching, transporting, stockpiling, marketing, and selling Hilsa will remain in effect from October 8 to October 29 to protect mother Hilsa during their peak breeding season.

Local fishermen reported that repeated trips to the Bay of Bengal and surrounding rivers have yielded meager catches, mostly consisting of smaller-sized Hilsa. The dwindling catch has left boat owners and fishermen unable to recover operational costs, including fuel, ice, food supplies, labor wages, and boat maintenance, pushing many deeper into debt. Concerns are also mounting over household sustenance during the upcoming ban when fishing income completely ceases.

The supply shortage has simultaneously driven prices up in local markets. A Patharghata-based fish trader noted that while one-kilogram Hilsa is purchased from fishermen at around Tk 1,350 per kilogram, middle-market markups drive retail prices for consumers to between Tk 2,000 and Tk 2,500 per kilogram.

Barguna District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Zia Uddin confirmed that administrative drives will be executed across local waterways to enforce the 22-day restriction. He added that out of 48,600 registered fishermen in the district, 27,000 will receive government food assistance during the ban period.

National Hilsa production dropped to approximately 5 lakh tonnes in the 2024–25 fiscal year, marking a 5.51 percent decline compared to the preceding year. The dual pressure of low availability and soaring market prices continues to strain both coastal fishing communities and end consumers alike.