The dried-fish production season has begun in Cox’s Bazar, with fishing resuming after a 22-day ban on fishing at sea. More than 150 tonnes of dried fish are now being produced daily at over 800 drying yards across the district.
Traders expect dried-fish production to reach around Tk500 crore this season if weather conditions remain favourable. They also expect exports to generate around Tk300 crore in foreign exchange.
At Nazirartek dried-fish yard in Cox’s Bazar, workers are busy from early morning until evening, drying, sorting, and processing fish. Fishermen return to the landing stations with their catches, which traders purchase and take to the drying yards. They then wash the fish and spread them on bamboo racks under the sun.
Women workers are involved in almost every stage of dried-fish production, from sorting fish to processing the final product. For many, the work is not merely a source of additional household income but their only means of livelihood.
Around 30 workers, including nine women, are employed at Niamat Enterprise’s yard in Nazirartek. Worker Sabekunnahar said activity at the yards had increased again after fishing resumed following the prolonged closure.
Traders are also busy as demand for dried fish rises during the winter. A yard operated by Kamal Traders currently has around 50 maunds of dried fish in stock. Traders said tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar during the peak tourism season often buy dried fish to take home, further boosting local sales.
Dried fish is being produced from various marine species, including loitta, churi, popa, maittya, kamila, faisya and rupchanda. At present, churi dried fish sells for Tk1,000-Tk2,500 per kilogram, loitta for Tk500-Tk1,200, faisya for Tk300-Tk350, popa for Tk500-Tk800, and rupchanda for Tk3,200-Tk3,700. Prices vary depending on species and quality.
Traders said dried-fish bhorta is included on the menus of more than 600 hotels and restaurants in Cox’s Bazar, creating additional demand as tourist arrivals increase.
Abdul Shukkur, president of the Bangladesh Dried Fish Exporters Association, said at least 40 dried-fish yards in the district exported popa dried fish to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia last year, generating around Tk200 crore.
“If weather conditions remain favourable, dried-fish exports could generate around Tk300 crore this season,” he said.
Abu Morshed Chowdhury Khoka, former president of the Cox’s Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the district produced around Tk400 crore worth of dried fish last year.
“If the environment and overall situation remain normal, production could reach close to Tk500 crore this year,” he said, adding that efforts are also underway to ensure a supply of safe, chemical-free dried fish to tourists and consumers across the country.
District Fisheries Officer Md Nazmul Huda said dried-fish production usually begins in the coastal areas of Cox’s Bazar in October-November and continues throughout the winter season.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Rahim Uddin
