The dried fish production season will begin today on four chars in the Dubla fishermen village in Sarankhola range of East Sundarbans. After obtaining permits from the Forest Department, more than 10,000 fishermen will arrive at the chars with around 1,500 trawlers and boats to catch fish for dried fish production.
Last year, this sector generated a revenue of Tk 7.23 crore during this season. This year, the government set a target to earn Tk 8 crore in revenue during this season. To ensure the safety of the fishermen, the Forest Department will have the Navy and Coast Guard monitoring the area. Additionally, ID cards will be issued to the fishermen. However, the fishermen said that no initiatives have been taken to address the severe safe drinking water crisis and healthcare services for the large population on the char areas.
According to sources from the Forest Department, this season, the Dubla fishermen village was given permission to construct 825 fishing and dried fish storage houses, 90 shops, and 51 depot houses under the jurisdiction of the patrol office at Alorkol, which is near the sea. The second location is Narikel Bari Char, where 95 fishing houses, 2 shops, and 4 depots have been approved. Shyalar Char will have 75 fishing houses, 2 shops, and 4 depots, while Majhir Killoy will have 40 fishing houses and 5 depots. The Forest Department issued strict instructions not to use any trees from the Sundarbans for making drying platforms and racks.
Dublar Char in Sarankhola range is one of the country's prominent regions for marine dried fish production. Dried fish, produced from the fish collected from the Bay of Bengal including varieties such as Bombay duck (Loitta), Ribon Fish (Chhuri), Shrimp, Lakha, Jaba, and Poa, meet local demand and are also exported after selection. Additionally, smaller species of fish, crabs, and aquatic creatures caught by fishermen are dried and used to produce fish feed. The harvested fish are sorted and processed into dried fish based on their species. The Forest Department’s revenue is generated due to the the fishermen’s fishing and dried fish processing activities in this fishing village.
Regarding the ID cards, this official said that each card will include the fisherman’s photo, national ID information, the name of the boat owner, and the house number. This will help identify any fisherman involved in criminal activities against the Forest Department or if they die for some reason.
Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Mintu Fakir, team leader of the CPP in Sarankhola Upazila, said that six teams have been formed with 60 members to assist fishermen and traders during emergencies. A CPP office has been established at the Dubla cyclone shelter to provide immediate updates to the chars until December.
Kamal Ahmed, president of the Dubla Fishermen Group, said over the phone that due to a blockade at sea, the dried fish production has been delayed by 15 days. Therefore, fishermen will start their dried fish activities on November 4 at Dublar Char. Fishermen and fish traders from various areas will depart after midnight on November 3. He noted that due to the absence of pirates and bandits in the Sundarbans, they can fish and produce dried fish without disturbance. Once the dried fish is prepared, it will be sent by trawlers and cargo ships to various locations across the country, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, and Barisal. He also mentioned that there are predictions of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal this year, which has caused anxiety among fishermen living in dilapidated shelters.
Mohammad Khalilur Rahman, the Officer -in -Charge of the Dubla Forest Patrol Office, said that nearly 2,000 trawlers and boats will operate in the sea for fishing and dried fish production from the first week of November until March. Last year, this sector generated a revenue of Tk 7.23 crore, while this season's revenue target is set at Tk 8 crore.
