A festive crowd gathered under the Hasamdia Flyover in Bhanga municipality of Faridpur as a night-long Hilsa fair drew thousands of buyers from Bhanga and nearby upazilas. The fair, held on Friday night, October 3, continued from evening until dawn, marking the last day before the government’s 22-day ban on catching and trading Hilsa, which took effect on October 4 and will continue until October 26.
Buyers such as Abdul Mannan, Dilip Das, and Rahman Sheikh expressed satisfaction after securing their favorite fish before the ban period began. Many said the event felt like a celebration, as people rushed to make their last purchases of the season.
One customer noted that while the supply of fish was limited compared to the large number of buyers, prices remained reasonable and within purchasing capacity.
At the fair, Hilsa fish were being sold at prices lower than the local market rates—by around Tk 100 to Tk 200 per kilogram. Large Hilsa weighing around one kilogram sold for Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,200 each. Medium-sized fish of about 500 grams were priced between Tk 800 and Tk 1,000, while smaller ones weighing around 250 grams sold for Tk 550 to Tk 600.
Thousands of buyers and visitors from surrounding villages thronged the area throughout the night, turning the marketplace into a scene of excitement and activity.
Hilsa traders said that the fish supply was lower than last year, though prices remained relatively stable. Despite the reduced stock, the enthusiasm of buyers ahead of the fishing ban kept the fair lively and vibrant until the early hours.
