Seasonal fish drying has started in the coastal areas of Bhola, Patuakhali and Barguna and thousands of people, including a good number of women and children, are now engaged in the job. During a recent visit, this correspondent saw many women and children in different sheds in west Kuakata area of the district cleaning fish, spreading them on bamboo or wooden platforms to dry in the sun, and packaging them. Md Reaz Hossain, 10, said he earns Tk 100 to Tk 150 daily, working from 8:00am till 7.00pm. I have to contribute to my family of six as my father is the only earning member and can’t maintain the family with his income, he said. Hasan, 9, said his family got him various jobs like drying fish, catching fingerlings and collecting snails and cockles in the beach. Jannatee, 7, Sathee, 9, and Salma, 8, were picking out dry fish with some women in another shed. Jannatee said she is a Class I student at Mirabari Government Primary School and worked during holidays and in her leisure time to earn some money for her family. She often has to miss classes to work and earn more to meet her family’s needs, she said, adding that she earned Tk 50 to Tk 100 daily. I do this work in the dry season to earn some money to help my family, said Sathee, who studies in Class IV in the same school. “I earn Tk 150 to Tk 200 daily for drying fish to contribute to my family as my rickshaw puller husband’s income is very poor,” said Aysha Begum. Md Bellal Hossain, who hires the children, said their families send them to do the work. Shahjahan Akon, a local resident, said dry fish traders preferred children and women workers considering their lower wages. A section of fishermen take up the job during the dry season from November to April when there is ban on netting jatka. They collect different species of sea-fish, cut them into pieces and spread them on bamboo or wooden platforms to dry in the sun. When the fish dry in three to four days, they are put into sacks for marketing. Traders from Dhaka, Chittagong and other places come here to buy dry fish, said Billal Hossain, a local dry fish trader. Poultry feed and fish feed are made from dry fish, he added. At least 10,000 fishermen in the southern coast are engaged in fish drying, locals said. Kuakata, Sonar Char, Rupar Char, Char Montaz, Moudubi, Fatrar Char and Char Gongamoti in Patuakhali, Nishanbaria, Taltali, Asar Char, and Pathorghata in Barguna, and Char Kochchhopia, Char Aicha, Char Bestin, Char Manika and Char Kukri in Bhola are the main places for fish drying, locals said. More and more fishermen are getting engaged in fish drying as it brings good profit, said Abdus Salam Howlader, a leader of Trawler Owners’ Association in Alipur fish landing station in Kalapara upazila of the district.
2016 / thedailystar.net