Chattogram Bureau :
Sellers display almost all kinds of dry fish. The most popular ones are the Chhuri, Loitta, Icha (shrimp), Lakka, Rupchanda, Poa, Painshha, Rita/Kata, Ulua, Hilsha, Shurma, Moilla etc.
Dry fish is one of the main delicacies of the Chattogram region. Traditional dry fish preparations are quite popular across the country. Bangladeshi dry fish is now being exported to the UK, the US, and the Middle East. The Department of Fisheries says it has adopted new and hygienic methods of drying and preserving fish, thereby contributing to its growing popularity abroad.
“If fishermen preserve dry fish by adopting the new methods and without using harmful chemicals, the taste of fish would remain intact. This is making dry fish more popular among all classes of people,” said Cox’s Bazar district fisheries officer FM Khalequzzaman.
“After removing fish intestines, fishermen are now mixing turmeric and pepper. It is very hygienic and keeps the quality of dry fish unchanged. Moreover, these preservatives keep insects away. We keep a close eye on the whole process to ensure that no harmful chemical is added,” he told.
The devices for drying fish have already changed. Fishermen are now using solar dryers, ropes and bamboo scaffolds, he added. Businessmen said people in Chattogram, Feni, Comilla, Brahamanbaria, Dhaka, Sylhet, Kisorganj, Sayedpur, Rangpur and Munshiganj districts were the main consumers of dry fish in the country.
“This sector has huge potential to earn foreign exchange. But its progress is slow because of lack of government patronage. The sector should be given the status of an industry. Loan interest rates for businessmen in this sector should made single digit as in the case of the industrial fish projects.
Sellers display almost all kinds of dry fish. The most popular ones are the Chhuri, Loitta, Icha (shrimp), Lakka, Rupchanda, Poa, Painshha, Rita/Kata, Ulua, Hilsha, Shurma, Moilla etc.
Dry fish is one of the main delicacies of the Chattogram region. Traditional dry fish preparations are quite popular across the country. Bangladeshi dry fish is now being exported to the UK, the US, and the Middle East. The Department of Fisheries says it has adopted new and hygienic methods of drying and preserving fish, thereby contributing to its growing popularity abroad.
“If fishermen preserve dry fish by adopting the new methods and without using harmful chemicals, the taste of fish would remain intact. This is making dry fish more popular among all classes of people,” said Cox’s Bazar district fisheries officer FM Khalequzzaman.
“After removing fish intestines, fishermen are now mixing turmeric and pepper. It is very hygienic and keeps the quality of dry fish unchanged. Moreover, these preservatives keep insects away. We keep a close eye on the whole process to ensure that no harmful chemical is added,” he told.
The devices for drying fish have already changed. Fishermen are now using solar dryers, ropes and bamboo scaffolds, he added. Businessmen said people in Chattogram, Feni, Comilla, Brahamanbaria, Dhaka, Sylhet, Kisorganj, Sayedpur, Rangpur and Munshiganj districts were the main consumers of dry fish in the country.
“This sector has huge potential to earn foreign exchange. But its progress is slow because of lack of government patronage. The sector should be given the status of an industry. Loan interest rates for businessmen in this sector should made single digit as in the case of the industrial fish projects.
