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The dried fish industry along the banks of Chalan Beel, once bustling with activity, is facing a downturn as declining supplies of native fish have hit production at drying yards in Ullapara and Tarash upazilas of Sirajganj.
The traditional scene of fish laid out in rows on bamboo racks, workers busy processing catches and the distinctive smell of dried fish filling the air is gradually disappearing. Some drying yards are shutting down, while many workers face the risk of losing their livelihoods.
According to the Department of Fisheries, 60 dried fish yards in Ullapara and Tarash produced 302 tonnes of dried fish in fiscal year 2023-24. Production fell to 185.17 tonnes in FY25, marking a decline of nearly 39 per cent in a year.
A recent visit to the drying yards in Arua Pangashi village of Ullapara found male and female workers drying different varieties of fish, including punti, khalse, tengra, chela, taki and shrimp. However, the shortage of raw fish has reduced workloads at many yards.
Ismail, an owner of a drying yard, said his facility produced around 35 tonnes of dried fish last year, but output could fall to 10-15 tonnes this year due to the fish shortage.
The need to procure fish from other areas has pushed up costs and squeezed profits, he added.
Jahanara Begum, a worker at a drying yard, said she earns Tk 200 a day by working from 7:00am to 6:00pm.
She struggles to support her five-member family with the income, she said, adding that workers like her lose their earnings whenever a drying yard shuts down.
Local people attribute the decline in native fish to the filling up of water bodies, destruction of breeding grounds, unplanned construction of embankments and roads, and harmful fishing practices.
Dried fish traders said products from Chalan Beel are supplied to different parts of the country and exported abroad. Falling production, however, is increasing dependence on imports.
They said protecting fish habitats, ensuring hygienic processing, introducing modern drying technologies and providing easy access to loans could help revive the industry.
Fisheries officials said initiatives are under way to conserve native fish, stop illegal fishing nets and improve dried fish quality.
Locals hope effective measures will help preserve Chalan Beel’s fish resources and dried fish heritage while restoring activity at the drying yards.