A day of heavy rainfall has left dried fish traders in Cox’s Bazar struggling to protect their products, with large quantities of marine dried fish soaked by rainwater at local markets and wholesale depots.
At the town’s dried fish warehouses and the popular dried fish market along the Kolatoli road, traders were seen rushing to salvage fish that had become damp and soft after being exposed to the rain.
Fearing financial losses, many traders immediately spread the fish out in open spaces and in front of their shops to dry them again under the sun. The situation has forced them to put in extra labour while racing against time to preserve the quality of their products.
Siam Hossain, a dried fish trader, reported that the previous day’s heavy rainfall had significantly affected a large quantity of fish.
‘Many of our dried fish products became wet due to the rain,’ he said. We now have to dry them properly again in the sun to prevent spoilage,’ he said.
He added that the dried fish markets, located close to the sea, attract tourists year-round, helping maintain steady sales. Visitors often purchase various types of marine dried fish, while some collect large-sized dried fish as souvenirs or for personal consumption.
According to local traders, sudden changes in weather pose a major challenge to the dried fish industry, particularly during the monsoon season. However, increased tourist activity and strong market demand help offset part of the losses caused by adverse weather conditions.
They expressed hope that favourable weather in the coming days would allow them to restore the quality of the rain-soaked products and minimise potential losses.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
