Fish drying season begins in Dublar Char

Dried fish production season has begun at Dublar Char in the Sarankhola range of East Sundarbans near the Bay of Bengal.

According to local sources, fishermen and their hired workers in Dublar char are passing busy times drying fish as they are getting good catches of fish that raised hope among them.

Already over 10,000 fishermen have reached Dublar char as the fish drying is going on in the full swing. The fish drying season started on October 29 and will continue till February 28.

The Forest Department expects to earn Tk 5 crore from dried fish processing this fiscal year, reports UNB.

Dried fish, locally known as shutki, has a storage life of several months and is considered a delicacy not only in Bangladesh but also in many countries where it’s exported.

For many fishermen families in Dublar Char, the dried fish sector is one of the primary sources of livelihood. Though 20% of the total fish catch is sun-dried around the year in Bangladesh, substantial production takes place from November to March.

Visiting Dublar char recently, the correspondent found fishermen involved in the dried fish processing have erected makeshift houses there after getting permission from the Forest Department.

According to the Forest Department, the fishermen were not allowed to use forest wood to make their makeshift houses this year and the authorities also imposed a ban on engaging child workers in dried fish processing.

Muhammad Belayet Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer of the Sundarban East Zone, said this year government had issued some restrictions in the area and the fishermen have been asked to follow some rules.

Legal actions, including cancellation of permission, will be taken against those involved in violating the rules, he said.

Last year, the government earned Tk 4.5 crore in revenue as 65,000 quintals of dried fish were processed but this year they are expecting to earn Tk 5 crore, he added.

Some dry fish traders told the correspondent that every year hundreds of fishermen throng Dublar Char for drying fish but if any fisherman falls sick there is no arrangement here to provide treatment. They also demanded a temporary medical camp in Dublar Char during the dried fish processing season.

There are five chars under Dublar Char- Alorkol, Majherkella, Meher Ali, Narikelbaria and Shelar Char—which are under the Sharankhola upazila of the district. Sources said this year, passes were given for erecting 30 houses, 63 depot houses, 15 houses for Mahajan (lease takers) and 96 temporary shops. Besides, some 10,000 fishermen got permission to enter the char.

Abu Taher, general secretary of Rampal Upazila Fisheries Association, said he along with 55 fishermen came to the char and they are passing a busy time netting, cutting and drying fish.