Dried fish production drops in Pabna for lack of fish

Dried fish production in Pabna has become a big challenge this year due to the lack of fish despite the increased demand at home and abroad. This year, dried fish production target in Pabna has been set at 150 tonnes, which was 200 tonnes in the past year. Farmers started dried fish production this year before the water in famous Chalanbeel and Ghaznar Beel dried up. However, the disruption of local fish breeding in the canals and beels due to China Duari and Current nets and the lack of sufficient fish pushed dried fish production under threat. Dried fish is produced in different areas of Chatmohar, Sujanagar, Santhia, and Bera upazilas in Pabna. The livelihood of about 4,000 male and female workers in the district is associated with this industry. Fisheries department officials said that this dried fish is exported to at least 20 countries around the world to meet local demand. This dried fish is particularly appreciated by expatriate Bangladeshis living in the United States, ...