A total of 10,000 fishermen from coastal areas are expected to gather at Dublar Char, popularly known as “Shutki Polli” or Dried Fish Village, as dried fish processing season kicked off.
Every year, several thousand fishermen and hired hands flock to the area to catch fish and make shutki (dried fish).
According to the forest department, this year, the authorities concerned have given permission to erect 108 makeshift houses and 78 depots for accommodation of fishermen and preservation of dried fish.
The fishermen will catch fish using 1,500 trawlers in the Sundarbans. They will process the fish and keep those under the sun for drying.
Dublar Char is already buzzing with workers and traders after the authorities issued permits to fishermen to catch fish.
Last year, the government earned Tk 6 crore revenue from Dublar Char and this year, a Tk 7 crore target has been set.
Different species of fish including Loitta, Faissa, Koral, Pomfret, Chhuri, Tuna and many more are being processed at Dublar Char. The demand of dried fish from the area is high as they are processed without using chemicals and formalin.
Rabiul Islam, a fisherman from Rampal upazila, said he came to Dublar Char on Friday and spent a busy day making makeshift houses with bamboo, polythene and hogla (long dry grass used for sheds).
Shahid Mallik, president of Matsyajibi Samity, said thousands of fishermen have already reached the area while many went to the sea to catch fish.
Dilip Majumdar, officer-in-charge of Alorkol camp, said the fishermen are busy erecting makeshift houses and it takes two to three days to complete.
Some fishermen were busy processing their catch under the open sky, he said.
Rana Deb, assistant forest conservator of Sundarbans East zone, said the dried fish processing season began on November 3 and will continue till March 31, next year.
The fishermen will live in Alorkol, Majherkella, Narikelbaria and Shelar Char for five months.
Sheikh Mahbub Hasan, assistant conservator of Forests under Sharankhola Range, said the forest department has been asked to remain vigilant so that no one in the guise of fishermen can commit crimes on Dublar Char.
