Our Correspondent :
Fish farmers and traders of Bogra’s Adamdighi upazila are in dire straits due to the Covid-19 Corona pandemic and nationwide closure of public transport. More than 500 traders involved in this business are now unemployed. In 1990, some unemployed youths of the area formed a small fish traders’ association and established a pona bazaar in the 56th century area adjacent to the public library of Adamdighi Upazila Sadar. The market was established on a large scale at one stage. Every day from dawn to 10am, crows used to sell fry worth around Tk 15 to 16 lakh in this market. It goes without saying that there is no import of pona fish in this market due to low production of renu fry in the grip of Corona epidemic. As a result, more than 500 traders and farmers of the small fish traders’ association have become unemployed.
According to the information received, there are 90 hatcheries in Adamdighi upazila of West Bogra. These hatcheries include Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Silvercarp, Grasscarp, Blackcarp, Bighead, Thaisarputi, Sarputi, Japanese, Mirrorcarp, Monosex tilapia, Tarabain, Magur, Bighead Magur, Kai, Desi Bidesi Shing, Pangas, Pabda etc. Domestic and foreign fish pollen fry are produced.
These produced renu pona fish are sold in this market. Wholesalers from different districts of the country come from this pona fish market and buy pona fish.
Rafiqul Islam, president of the Adamdighi Small Fishermen’s Association, and Korban Ali, general secretary, said that since the outbreak of the corona epidemic in the country in March last year, the production of pollen fry has been severely damaged. Besides because of the corona, wholesalers from outside do not come to buy fish carps.
Earlier, fish carps worth Tk 15 to 16 lakh was traded in this market on an average every day. As a result, pona traders are spending their days in extreme misery with their families.
Sujoy Pal, senior fisheries officer of Adamdighi upazila, said there was a shortage of fry production due to corona across the country. Moreover, due to the occasional lockdown and closure of public transport, wholesalers from different districts of the country did not come to the pona market.
