In the sweltering summer heat, a long-lost rural tradition of fishing in drying canals and wetlands has made a nostalgic comeback in the village of Pẽchar Dwip along Cox’s Bazar’s Marine Drive. Once a common sight across rural Bangladesh, villagers used to drain water from fields and canals to catch fish by hand when water levels dropped during the dry season.
That timeless scene, faded by time, returned as intense heat and scorching sunlight dried up submerged canals and wetlands. While much of the water disappears, various native fish species remain trapped, prompting villagers to wade into the mud and catch fish with their bare hands.
This form of fishing, often seen as rural entertainment, has become a joyous community event. With shallow water left in ponds, canals, and fields, villagers use plates and bowls to scoop out the remaining water. Then begins the celebration—men and women, laughing and cheering, plunge their hands into the muddy waters to pull out fish one after another.
Among the catches are native species like puti, koi, magur, singi, and tengra—bringing both sustenance and smiles to those taking part in this revival of a disappearing rural heritage.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
