Despite peak Hilsa season, fishermen struggle to make worthwhile catches in Shariatpur

Despite the peak Hilsa season, fishermen along the Shariatpur stretches of the Padma and Meghna rivers are struggling to make worthwhile catches, with many returning almost empty-handed after spending the entire day at the river.

This poor condition left hundreds of families facing mounting financial losses and growing uncertainty over their livelihoods, said fishermen and businessmen related to this sector.

According to data obtained from the Department of Fisheries, Hilsa production in Shariatpur has fallen by 823 tonnes over the past five years. Production stood at 4,528 tonnes in 2021 that fell to 3,705 tonnes in 2025.

Kawsar, a fisherman from the remote Padma char of Kachikata union, said each fishing boat is crewed by 10 to 12 fishermen, while daily operating costs, including fuel and food, remain high.

"This is supposed to be the peak season, yet there are hardly any fish. It has become extremely difficult to support our families," he added.

Riaz Munshi, who works at one of the 25 fish markets along the Padma riverbank at Sureshwar in Shariatpur, said the markets are usually bustling with Hilsa between June and August.

"However, supplies have been low since the start of this season," he said.

Riaz added, "The river is becoming shallower and underwater sandbars are increasing. As a result, Hilsa are no longer as plentiful as they used to be."

Experts said pollution from industrial waste, rising water temperatures linked to climate change, formation of underwater sandbars, reduced river navigability are the main reasons for this decline.

Shariatpur District Fisheries Officer Biswajit Kumar Dev said there are currently at least 30 small and large underwater sandbars in the district's stretches of the Padma and Meghna rivers.

"These sandbars are disrupting the natural migration routes of Hilsa," he said.

He added that industrial waste discharged from factories in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, and Narsingdi is polluting the rivers, while water temperatures have also risen above normal levels.

"Hilsa generally thrive in water temperatures between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius. Water temperature is currently higher than that, meaning fewer Hilsa are migrating from the sea into the rivers," Biswajit said.  

According to Officials, around 80km of the Padma and Meghna rivers flow through Shariatpur district, comprising roughly 50km of the Padma and 30km of the Meghna. The district is home to around 9,300 fishing boats, providing livelihoods for approximately 25,200 fishermen.