Govt to sell hilsa at Tk600 per kg
Adviser Farida said they want to start a process of elimination of middlemen chain from the market
The government has taken initiative to sell hilsa fish at Tk600 per kg under the "Selling Hilsa Fishes at Fair Price Programme" aiming to make the national fishes available for the common people.
"Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) and Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Association (BMFA), a non-government outfit, are working jointly to implement the programme," said an official release today (20 January).
Earlier, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter inaugurated the programme as the chief guest held in front of BFDC Bhaban at the city's Karwan Bazar on Sunday.
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"The government is trying to keep the price of the fish within the purchasing capacity of the people so that the common people can afford it. It is a very small initiative and I know all of you would not be pleased with it and we will try to do more for the people," said the adviser while inaugurating the programme.
The slogan of the programme is "Be blessed by purchasing Ilish which is incomparable in taste and aroma" (Swade - Gondhe Atulonio Illish Kine Hon Dhonnyo).
The price of hilsa could be reduced if the monopoly of middlemen is eliminated from the market, Farida said, adding that it is difficult to lower the price of other fishes including hilsa under the existing marketing system.
"But we want to prove that the price of the 'king of fishes' can be sold at a discount rate if we can bring it directly at the selling point from the source of origin," she added.
The adviser said, "We want to start a process of elimination of middlemen chain from the market."
With BFDC Chairman Surayya Akhtar Jahan in the chair, the programme also was attended, among others, by BMFA President Enam Chowdhury, the fisheries and livestock ministry's Additional Secretary Syeda Nawara Jahan, BFDC Director Adiyto Chandra Das, Deputy Director of fisheries and livestock information department Umme Habiba, BMFA Director Taisir Khan, BMFA Secretary Abid Hossen, and Fish Farm Owners Association (FOAB) President Molla Shamsur Rahman Shahin.
