A single hilsa fish weighing 1.765 kilograms was sold for Tk 7,500 at the Patharghata BFDC fish port in Barguna on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The price per maund reached Tk 170,000, reflecting a sharp rise in demand ahead of Pahela Baishakh. The fish was auctioned at Munni Fish Arat, where several local traders competed before wholesaler and merchant fish trader Alhaj Zakir Hossain made the highest bid and purchased it.

Local trader Imran Hossain said the supply of hilsa in the market is currently very low as catches from the sea have almost stopped. The hilsa caught in the Baleshwar River that morning became a major attraction. He added that demand for large hilsa has increased several times before the festival, while smaller jatka hilsa are selling for about Tk 60,000 per maund.

Upazila Fisheries Officer Hasibul Haque stated that the government will impose a 58-day ban on deep-sea fishing next month to ensure fish breeding and growth, which could help increase future catches of large hilsa.