Preparations for the new dried-fish drying season have begun at the Nazirartek dried-fish hub in Cox’s Bazar, with local traders busy repairing old drying racks and building new ones.
During a visit to the area, this correspondent found permanent dried-fish traders constructing new racks with wood, bamboo and thatch. Some were also building small sheds for drying and storing fish.
Old racks damaged or rotted by rain are being removed, while the entire dried-fish hub is being refurbished ahead of the new season.
Dried-fish trader Saibur Hossain said many of the old racks had rotted or collapsed due to storms and rain.
“As the intensity of the rain has started to decrease, we are preparing new racks for drying fish,” he said.
He said fish drying at the Nazirartek dried-fish hub generally takes place from August-September through October-November.
“Dried fish is sold almost throughout the year. However, demand and sales usually nearly double in December, January and February,” he said.
Traders said various species of fish brought in from the sea would be dried and processed into dried fish once the season begins.
They are therefore preparing the drying racks and other infrastructure in advance.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
