Bangladesh: Barter system ends at Brahmanbaria's centuries-old dried fish fair

"Shutki Mela" in Brahmanbaria's Nasirnagar upazila was famous for selling dried fish in exchange of various goods as well as for cash, but this year traders at the centuries-old fair decided to discontinue the barter system, saying it would not be profitable due to the hike in product prices. According to popular tradition, the two-day dried fish fair has been held on the second and third day of Baishakh in Kulikunda village of Sadar union in Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria for several centuries. Traders from Brahmanbaria and the surrounding districts come to Kulikunda village at dawn and sell dried fish in exchange for various products for several hours. Later, throughout the day they sell it for cash. Low-income people, who were the main beneficiary of the barter system, faced immense difficulties buying dried fish at the fair this year. Rafiq Miah, a resident of Kulikunda village, said the barter system was not only convenient for a large number of buyers, it was a tradition ...