Members of the Tripura community gather shellfish, their primary source of income, in the Reju Khal area near Mermaid Beach Resort along Cox’s Bazar’s Marine Drive.
This daily activity provides them an income ranging from Tk 500 to Tk 1,000. Sometimes, they cook the shellfish for their meals, while at other times, they sell them for a profit.
Shellfish is a sought-after seafood, especially popular in high-end hotels, where it is featured as a premium menu item.
“We enjoy eating shellfish and are also able to make a decent income from it,” said Rupali Tripura, one of the collectors.
Men and women of the Tripura community travel from Palongkhali in Ukhiya to collect shellfish here. They use improvised tools, such as umbrella ribs (locally called chhata-khanj), to dig through the sand and extract shellfish from beneath the surface.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Hussain Shetu
