The largest wholesale market of dried fish, called shutki in Bangla, at Naziratek in Cox's Bazar is buzzing with activity as traders, workers and wholesalers have joined forces to make a good profit this time around.

Starting 18 years ago on a small scale, the trading of dried fish is expected to hit around Tk 250 crore in the ongoing season, people in the industry said.    

Buyers from Anwara, Banshkhali, Patiya in Chittagong, and Pekua, Chakoria, Maheshkhali and Kutubdia in Cox's Bazar have been visiting the market for the dried fish.

During a recent visit to the market on the beach at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, Maheshkhali channel and the Bakkhali river, traders were seen buying raw fish from fishing trawlers and boats and hanging those on the bamboo platforms to let those dry. Different species of fish -- Chhuri, Laitta, Faisshya, Rupchanda, Matia, Poa, Chingri, Lakkhya, Kamila, Korati, Rupsha and Surma -- are usually processed for making shutkis.

Leaders of the Naziratek Shutki Traders Multipurpose Cooperative Society said the number of their members has already reached 903.

A trader usually invests from Tk 10 lakh to Tk 5 crore, they added.

Every season, at least 20,000 labourers work in different Shutki mahals -- bamboo-fenced territories of the traders. Production of dried fish starts at the end of August when workers from remote areas of Cox's Bazar and Chittagong visit the mahals in search of work. The production continues for the next eight to nine months.

Sea fish being dried under the sun. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Despite having huge potential and employment opportunities, the business environment is plagued by allegations of discriminatory wages, and the use of harmful ingredients.

Allegations run rife that traders employ a good number of women and children. At present, there are around 500 Shutki mahals, where 90 percent of the workers are women.   

Lutfa Begum, 40, a worker, said her shift at a Shutki mahal starts at 6:00am and continues till 5:00pm. She earns Tk 200-300 for 11 hours of work a day.

Her male colleagues, however, get Tk 400-500 for the same work, Lutfa said, demanding fair wages for both sexes.

On the other hand, child labour is common and children get maximum Tk 150 per day.

In this regard, Atique Uddin (Company), president of Naziratek Shutki Traders Multipurpose Cooperative Society, said female labour force is very cheap, making the traders interested to hire them.  

During the visit, it was also found that workers were spraying water mixed with DDT powder, which is harmful to health, on dried fish. On condition of anonymity, a trader said they use DDT to some extent to save their produce from insect attacks. 

On the other hand, traders also expressed their frustration over some outstanding issues. 

A small trader, who chose to be anonymous, said traders coming from outside have to “satisfy” the local traders to run their own business smoothly.  

Trader Omar Faruk Badsha, vice-president of the traders' organsiation, said wholesalers from Khatunganj, a business hub of Chittagong, give a big chunk of loan to the traders every year. When the season starts, the wholesalers buy the dried fish at a much lower rate than the market price and take the produce to their own market, he said.

Though the trade of dried fish at Naziratek has risen up over the years, the market has seen very little infrastructural development despite repeated appeals, the traders said. 

The market is a part of the district town, but the three-kilometre road from Zero Point in the town to Naziratek has not yet been paved, the traders said, adding that the dried fish-laden vehicles had to negotiate their ways through sand and mud.

The traders said electricity remains available for only a few hours a day, taking toll on their business.

Atique Uddin, general secretary of the multipurpose cooperative society, demanded government initiative to immediately solve these problems. 

In November last year, this correspondent talked to the then District Fisheries Officer (DFO) Amitosh Sen, who has been enjoying post retirement leave (PRL) from January 5 this year. The former DFO then said they were giving training to the traders on a regular basis to increase their awareness of the harmful effects of DDT and other chemicals.  

He also said the government had taken an initiative to introduce a licensing system to ensure accountability and discipline in production, storage, marketing and sales of dried fish.

This correspondent on January 19 talked to new DFO (in-charge), Dr Moinuddin Ahmed, to learn about his plan concerning the industry. Reiterating his predecessor, he said they have been working on creating a database to store all the information of the traders.

In addition, they also have a plan to distribute identity cards among the traders, monitor the trading activities, and bring coordination between traders and the authorities concerned, to help the industry flourish, Moinuddin added.