FAREWELL TO FISHES LIKE BOROLI : FISH LOVING PEOPLE OF INDIA & BANGLADESH FEEL SORROW

THE ILISH FISH OF TEESTA RIVER ON THE VERGE OF OBLIVION

SHIB SHANKAR CHATTERJEE
River Teesta and its tributaries are always noted for nursing ground of the fishes like – Boroli,
which is locally called – ‘Ilish (or called – Hilsa) of Teesta’, the very names of which captivate the fish
lovers of Bengal. But, the fish loving people do not see them as if they have lost in the whirl of wanton
wants of the inhabitants of the North Bengal part of the Indian State, West Bengal and the Lalmonirhat
and Nilphamari districts under Rongpur Sub-division of Bangladesh.
Among the many fishes of this region, this particular fish (the scientific name – Barilius barila)
of the river Teesta are held in high esteem because of their scent and saga. Around 12-centimetres long
(which is maximum) this silvery slough of this fairly common species of the said river is always an
attraction to the buyers and sellers both. Not only it bears the same taste and temptation to all fish
loving peoples, but also it is commercially very important due to its superior taste.
Most interesting thing is that along with others fishes, this species is found floating, which
twinkles in clear water of the said river, when it moves to and fro. But, the most woeful matter is that
these tasty and tempting fishes are at present on the wane.
Though, this aforesaid river and its small tributaries are both breeding and hiding places of this
freshwater fish. However, at present, these places have become the most vicious places for these Boroli
fishes. The chief cause of it is nothing but the covetous eyes of the fishermen and traders. They are
always in want to fetch a lot of money by way of profit and this fact has led them to catch as much fish
as possible. This is why, many a time, they use poisonous pesticides unscientific way, which kill all types
of fishes, both big, small and even, tiny ones are not spared.
“Ei machher dam proti kilo 400 theke 500 taka, amonki 800 taka obdio jay; jodio aajkal
khubi kam paowa jay. Tabe er taste alada, ekdom ilisher mato. Keu jodi ilish machher recepie kheye
thaken ar ei-machher receipie kheye thaken, tabe ei-dotu machher madhye difference khuje paben na,
e katha ami holop kore ba jor diye bolte pari (that is, At present, it’s existence is generally rare. Yet, a
few of its are seen in the local market. In a word I can say – this type of tasty fish is not available in the
bazaar everyday at all. Now-a-days, it’s cost reaches up to per kilogramme minimum Rs. 400 to
maximum Rs. 500, while sometimes, it touches up to Rs. 800 per kilogramme. It bears a very
captivating sweet fragrance and almost the taste of Hilsa fish like. Nobody could find out any difference
between these two fishes, specially, when cooked with the same recipe. Even, yet if anyone tries to
differentiate between these two fishes, he or she cannot do it and in this matter I can assure all the
public with all guarantees…”, emphasized Dilip Halader, fish seller of Ghogomali Fish Market of
Jalpaiguri district.
“Though, presently, the Teesta river has fallen in the distributary channel of the Brahmaputra
river near the Haripur Ghat area. But, earlier, that is, before the year – 1970, it existed at Teesta Mukh
Ghat, which was located at a distance of around 05-kilometres to 06-kilometres from Haripur Ghat.
I have known this fish since my childhood and I also have habit of taking different types of
delicious dish cooked with this particular type of fish, which previously my mother used to cook and
now my wife does it very nicely. Presently, in our local weekly market it costs per kilogramme minimum
Rs. 300 to maximum Rs. 400. Yet we do not hesitate to purchase the same at the higher rate, which
ranks from Rs. 500 to Rs. 600 per kilogramme. We used to buy it always because of it’s taste and
freshness. In a word we like it very much”, emphasized sexagenarian Surbhi Kumar Sahu Roy and 35-
years-old Muhammad Habibullah, who reside Panchpeer Bazaar village under Sundargunj PS of
Gaibanda district of Bangladesh and work in the branch office of Agrani Bank Limited.
The sharp changes in the courses of this river and its branches, water pollution, blasting in hills
(which create huge vibrations or tremors in the hilly rivers, streams, etcetera) and uses of various types
of nets of the fishermen community and so on.
It can be noted here that the international river Teesta (locally known as – Tista) originates
from Pauhunri glacier that situated in the mountain range in the Indian subcontinent, Himalayas and
located on the international border between (Sikkim State) India and Tibet (that is, Tibet Autonomous
Region, shortly say, TAR) China, flows through the Indian States of Sikkim and West Bengal before
entering near Kaliganj Hat under Dimla Police Station (PS) of Nilphamari district of Bangladesh and
finally falls or merges into the distributary channel of the world’s one of the largest rivers, Brahmaputra
(exactly at Haripur Ghat, near Panchpeer Bazar village under Chandipur Post Office and Sundarganj PS
of Gaibandha district of Bangladesh), which is also originated from another glacier namely Angsi, that
1
is situated also in TAR. 393-kilometres of the long this aforementioned river is not only considered to
be the lifeline of Sikkim State but also of the West Bengal State (that covers Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and
Coochbehar districts) as well as western parts of Bangladesh.
According to the officials of the fishery department of the Indian States Assam and West Bengal,
‘This particular little-ilish fishes generally eat different types of watery plants, maggot, daphnia, cyclops,
volvox, spirogyra, etcetera’.
Secretary General of Local Non Governmental Organsiation (NGO), Nature & Science Club of
district headquarter, town, Jalpaiguri of West Bengal State, Raja Rout claimed, “They usually like
various types of moss. Although, the want of this particular type of fish has arisen due to the pitiless
aggression of the fishermen community and covetous eyes of the fish sellers or traders has thrown the
species on the verge of extinction. Thus, this reckless attack of the merciless fishermen community and
the greed of profiteer fish sellers or traders should immediately be stopped”.
According to the Additional Director of Fisheries (Technical), North Bengal Division, Fishery
Department, Government of West Bengal State (India) had pointed out, “The key reasons for declining
of Boroli Fishes are : a) Number of indigenous flora and fauna are declining each and every year due to
various manmade as well as natural calamities, b) Rampant use of mosquito nets during breeding
season (that is, during the months of May to July) by the fishermen and the local people, c)
indiscriminate use of different pesticides and other chemicals in the tea plantation, which ultimately
finds their way in the aquatic system causing mass mortality of Boroli and others small fishes,
particularly, d) indiscriminately catching of Boroli fish in the past had caused sharp or considered
declining of Boroli fish in their natural habitat, e) soil erosion and landslide due to indiscriminate
deforestation has increased the load of the riverbed, which in turn creates natural barrier for the
migration of Boroli fish and f) Unplanned lifting of stones, sands, and others materials from the
riverbeds, which have destroyed Boroli breeding grounds”.
While on the other hand, he also suggested, “The principal steps have been taken to revive the
Hilsas of Teesta river (that is, Boroli species) are : a) Restrictions of mosquito nets during breeding
times (that is, during the months of May to July) by the fishermen community through awareness
campaign, b) Culture of Boroli fish in confined water-tanks, ponds, small reservoirs, et cetera, c) Steady
of growth and survival rate, food and feeding habits and its viability, d) Constructions of Boroli fish
hatcheries to ensure Boroli seeds to the farmers and river ranching and e) Awareness programme
amongst local people, fishermen community, for judicious exploitation of the Boroli fish without
destroying their natural habitats by using unwanted methods”.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened
Species 2010, “Along with other small species of Barilius, this species was discovered by Scottish
Physician, Francis Buchanan or Francis Hamilton or Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in 1822, who
described the fish as – Cyprinus barila, which is used by fishermen as a bait on hooks for other bigger
and commercially important fishes. It is also a game and ornamental fish. This freshwater is found to
inhabit large hill streams and shallow clear rivers along foot hills in a benthopelagic environment. The
common name of this species is Barred Baril, which is also found in – China (Yunnan province),
Myanmar (that is, Burma) and Nepal, excluding India and Bangladesh.
At the present time, these local ilish has stopped her all times diving and dancing, disporting
and displaying various fits in the above hilly river and its tributaries. It is also lightning codes/alarming
that this superb species are disappearing day-by-day or reducing in their numbers due to rive is also
drying day-to-day.