Rivers, canals and other water bodies are full of water during the monsoon and many people catch fish with a large lift net (locally known as khara jal) in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district.
Over a hundred families in the upazila are making a living by fishing in Titus and Buri rivers and various canals, including Jamuna, with the fishing net, khara jal.
Hundreds of fish hunters are seen catching fish in Jamuna canal and the Titus and Buri rivers in Shyamgram, Majhiara, Bangra, Jinadpur, Gosaipur, Kanikara, Kazimabad, Karoibari, Tanchara, Radhanagar, Bhairabnagar, Lapang, Sadekpur, Mantala, Hajipur, Uttardarra, Molla, Bishara, Damla, Jolpukuria, Fatehpur, Sitarampur, Ibrahimpur, Kalipura, Srirampur, Jagannathpur, Satmora and Rasullabad areas under Nabinagar Upazila during the rainy season. They catch fish with the khara jal made of bamboo and net and sell them in the market.
Several people, including Anowar, Muntaz, Motahar Ali, Latif, Zainal, Shukchan, Zaheed, Sona Mia, Mahibul Islam, Shafi, Rakikul and Omar are seen fishing in the area. They earn their living by selling fish.
Faridul Islam said it costs Tk 8,000 to Tk 10,000 to make a khara jal. If used properly, a large lift net can be used up to 3-5 years. Only need to change the net occasionally. "Fish is now available well. Fish can be sold for Tk 1,000 to 1,500 per day, but it is difficult to get fish for Tk 300-400 during other seasons,” he said.
Mohibul Islam said that he got 15 kgs of small fish, including Mola, Puti, Tengra, Foli and small Taki fish, from 6:00am to 11:30pm on a day. He sells the fish at the price of Tk 200-300 per kg in the local market. More fishes are caught at night than the daytime.
Sona Mia said, “We now make a good profit through khara jal. However, the prices of bamboo and net have become high. The cost of making a khara jal is a bit high. But the demand for small fish is quite good in the market."
Ibrahimpur Union Parishad Chairman Abu Musa said, “Throughout the year the fishermen make a living by catching fish in the rivers, but during the rainy season their profits are a little higher when more fishes are also available.”
