The dried fish industry in Cox’s Bazar is an important component of Bangladesh’s blue economy, producing an estimated 300 to 400 crore BDT worth of dried fish annually across various processing yards and supporting the livelihoods of nearly one lakh people. Yet the economic benefits of this industry remain deeply unequal. While traders and mahajans can earn substantial returns on their investments, workers—particularly women—often remain among the lowest-paid participants in the value chain.
Amid intense pressure to minimise losses and maximise profits, an even more serious threat has emerged: the unsafe use of pesticides in dried-fish processing. During cloudy or humid weather, when drying becomes difficult and the risk of insect infestation increases, some unscrupulous traders reportedly use toxic chemicals such as DDT or Diazinon to protect their products. Such practices can pose serious risks to food safety and public health while damaging the reputation of Bangladesh’s dried-fish products in domestic and international markets.
In the current context, food adulteration and unsafe food practices have become a persistent public-health concern in Bangladesh. If a promising sector such as dried fish becomes associated with chemical contamination, the consequences could extend far beyond individual consumers. Public confidence may decline, export markets may become more difficult to retain, and an industry supporting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods could suffer significant economic losses. Once the reputation of a food product is damaged in international markets, rebuilding consumer trust can be extremely difficult.
Therefore, while reforming the entire food system at once may be difficult, Bangladesh should systematically address corruption, irregularities and health risks sector by sector. Cox’s Bazar’s dried-fish industry can become a pioneering model for such reform. Eliminating unsafe pesticide use requires regular mobile courts, strict action against those responsible, and stronger monitoring throughout the processing chain. At the same time, modern greenhouse drying facilities and affordable, easy-term credit should be made available so that producers have safe and practical alternatives.
Protecting public health and strengthening the credibility of Bangladesh’s dried-fish industry are not competing priorities; they are inseparable. To keep this important sector economically vibrant while safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of those who depend on it, the administration’s special and urgent attention is now essential.
By Salam Abu
Editor
