Hilsa is now sold secretly in Chandpur ahead of Pahela Boishakh despite a ban on catching, marketing and selling of the fish. The ban has been effective on catching of hilsa and other fishes for the months of March and April in the rivers -- Meghna and Padma – stretching from Shatnol of Matlab North Upazila up to Char Alexander covering an area of100 kilometres.
The restriction is imposed every year to allow breeding of the fishes in sweet water. But flouting the rule, a section of dishonest fishermen have been engaged in netting hilsas and other fishes at night, avoiding the patrolling coastguard members. Many local people said the fish is also being sold openly in many bazaars.
 The fish traders preserved the hilsas in their deep freezes to make windfall profit on the occasion of Pahela Baisakh, sources said.
“I have sold frozen hilsa weighing one kilogram at Tk 1500  and two kgs at Tk 4400,” said fish trader Ali Akbar Prodhania, at Chandpur Boro Station’s fish ghat on Sunday.  
Raju Ahmed, another fish trader, said he had preserved some hilsa fish. He sold three small size frozen hilsas weighing one kg at Tk 700; but he sold two small hilsas, weighing 500 grams each at Tk 1500 per kg. A fresh hilsa, weighing 700 to 800 grams is being sold at Tk 1500 per kg, said a trader on condition of anonymity.
 Fish trader Yunus Bepari at Biponi Bagh Bazaar said he has hilsas in his stock. But he cannot bring them in the market for fear of mobile court.
But if anybody put orders, he can manage them easily. He said a kg of frozen hilsa sells at Tk 1500.
Some fish traders at Biponi Bagh kitchen market, Wireless Bazaar, Paler Bazaar and Fish ghat at Boro Railway Station said they can make a good profit by selling hilsas on this occasion.  
Despite the government ban, people are buying hilsas, frozen or fresh, at an exorbitant rate.
Some people said Pahela Baishakh comes to us once in a year. “So, why not we buy a hilsa, whatever its price,” one said.