There is an acute shortage of indigenous and native species of fish in Naogaon district. As a result, there has been an extreme stagnation in the production of dried fish even in the full season. The lives and livelihoods of those involved in this profession have been adversely affected. Shuntkipalli (fish drying area) of Atrai is facing an acute shortage at all. As a result of illegal fishing, the number of native species of fish has started to decrease.
At the beginning of the season, equipment was prepared for making dried fish, but due to lack of fish, they are empty now. Unlike other times, this time due to the lack of flood in the area, the river and canal water levels have decreased, so the local fish is not available at the time when the local fish market is supposed to be available. As a result, there has been extreme frustration among dry fish traders.
About 600 metric tons of dry fishes are produced in Atrai upazila every year. This fish drying process starts after monsoon. It lasts till winter. During this time, dry fish traders spend a busy time. The income generated by making and marketing dry fishes keeps the traders going throughout the year. Bharatentulia village adjacent to Atrai Ahsanganj railway station is originally known as dry fish village. Besides, dried fish were dried in warehouses on both sides of the Atrai Ahsanganj railway line and in the area adjacent to KDC. But this year many lofts are lying empty due to lack of fish.
It is known from talking to the dry fish traders that the dry fishes of Naogaon Atrai are supplied to the northern districts of the country, Syedpur, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Jamalpur and Dhaka. But the main market is different states of India. This dried fishes first goes to Syedpur. Then from there it was exported to India by train. However, due to the absence of floods last year and the drying up of the water in canals, local fish production has decreased. Traders are disappointed with the dry production. Punti, Taki and Khalisa fish are used to make dried fish. One maund of punti is 15 kg, four maunds of taki are one maund and three maunds of khalisa fish are one maund of dried fish. At present, dried small punti is selling at Tk 150, big punti Tk 400, Taki Tk 400-450 and Khalisa Tk 200-250 per kg, said the traders.
Due to the lack of flood this year, the rivers and canals are almost empty of water, so there is a severe crisis of native species of fish. As a result, there is less fish in the market but the price is high, so the cost of making dried fish has increased a lot, so the dried fish traders are not happy. There is extreme frustration among them.
Manjur Molla, Osman Sheikh, Sardar of Abdus Chattar, Mozahar Molla, shuntki traders of Bharatentulia village said, "We have been associated with dried fish business for a long time. The manufacture of dryers costs money as well as considerable labor.
I am continuing this profession with my family, ignoring all the sun and rain and the stench of fish. We prepare dried fish of various varieties including punti, kholsani, chanda, raikhor, sati. Among them, there is a huge demand for dried fish, especially punti and sati.
This time the fish is less but the price is higher so we have to count our losses. Many people have made fishing gear but they are lying down due to lack of fish.
Upazila Fisheries Officer Palash Chandra said that those involved in dried fishes have been trained last year to prepare this product healthily. We all need to be aware to protect the fish resources.