Marginal dried fish traders lose Tk10 lakh due to untimely rain

Untimely winter rain – which wreaked havoc across the country – has damaged dried fish worth at least Tk 10 lakh in Barguna of Barishal division, and ruined other seasonal crops such as paddy, maize, wheat, spice and winter vegetables there.

During a recent visit to the area, traders of the dried fish zones in Barguna’s Pathorghhata and Taltoli upazila were seen frustrated. Fearing further losses, they said the winter rain, occurring on February 3-4, was unanticipated, and have already ruined dried fish worth Tk 7 lakh.

“We placed the dried fish to sun-dry in Pathorghata. But the sudden rain has soaked the fish, and it will rot,” said Alam Gorami, a resident of Sadar union’s Padma area of the upazila, adding that the overall damage would be more than Tk 10 lakh.

“We usually take loans from hoarders and make the dried fish with that money. After selling the product, we repay them. So if we cannot recoup the losses, we will be in deep trouble,” said Malek Fakir, another dried fish trader of the area.

“We are facing a severe crisis. Nobody can save us except the government. If we get cash assistance or interest-free loans from the authorities concerned, we would be able to carry on our businesses this year,” said Malek along with other traders.

Rejaul Karim Abbas, a dried fish wholesaler of the upazila told The Business Post that at least 50 families of the area are involved in the dried fish trade, and all of whom have faced damages due to the untimely rain.

“These families are underprivileged and run their business taking high-interest loans from the hoarders. If the government does not help them, they will be in an acute financial crisis,” said Rejaul Karim.

Jayanta Kumar Apu, upazila fisheries officer of Pathorghata, said dried fish gets ruined as soon it comes into contact with rainwater.

“We are still trying to measure the losses. As per our primary estimation, the traders of the upazila are going to face losses worth Tk 5 lakh to 6 lakhs. The losses have a high chance of exceeding our estimate,” Apu said.

Kaosar Hossain, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Taltoli, said, “We are ready to help the marginal dried fish traders if they formally seek support.”

Besides, Pathorghhata UNO Hossain Muhammad Al Mujahid said they contacted the senior authorities concerned to help the marginal traders in the area. “We are trying to take measures so that the rest of the dried fish does not get ruined,” he added.

Bishwajit Kumar Deb, fisheries officer of Barguna, said, “If the temperature gets higher, the damages would be less. We are hoping for the best. We will talk to the marginal dried fish traders and assess their necessities.”