Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will not have Hilsa dishes on her Pahela Baishakh menu during the celebrations this year.

Ihsanul Karim, press secretary to the prime minister, confirmed to The Daily Star.

The announcement came when the issue of having Hilsa item for the Bangla New Year celebration is sweeping the nation as the celebration coincides with breeding season of the much venerated national fish.

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"By dropping Hilsa from her menu on Pahela Baishakh, the prime minister is discouraging people to have jatka on the day," said Ihsanul Karim.

People usually have Hilsa and jatka as the central part of their meals during the nation's largest festival. This move taken by the PM will help save jatka, he added.

In recent years, Panta and Hilsa fish have become the most popular dishes on the first day of Bangla New Year. Centring the programme, price of the fish usually skyrocket and are out of reach for most people during the festival.