Baghdad:Dublar Char Fishermen at Dublar Char are celebrating the start of the annual dry fish season with substantial catches in the initial days. The season, which began after the impact of Cyclone Arnab subsided, has seen enthusiastic participation from thousands of fishermen who have flocked to the fishing settlements, including Alorkol, under the Dublar Char fishing zone on the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dublar Char fishing village spans 81 square miles across Alorkol, Majherkilla, Narikelbaria, and Shelar Char in the eastern Sundarbans. The area is responsible for producing around 80 percent of the country's dried fish. More than 10,000 fishermen have gathered at the four chars to catch various fish species for drying, including loitta, ribbonfish, shrimp, pomfret, and poa.
The fishermen will remain at Dublar Char from October 31 to March 31 to catch and dry fish. This year, authorities permitted the construction of 1,018 temporary shelters, 67 depots, and 116 shops for daily necessities. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, President of the Dublar Char Fishermen Group, noted that despite initial concerns over cyclone impacts, favorable weather conditions have led to large catches.
Motashim Farazi, President of the Rampal Fishermen's Association, reported that fishermen are delighted with the early success, although they remain wary of piracy threats. Requests have been made to the Coast Guard and other agencies for increased security measures.
In charge of the Dublar Char Patrol Outpost, Mohammad Khalilur Rahman, confirmed that fishing resumed once conditions improved post-cyclone, with many fishermen already preparing their catches for drying. The Divisional Forest Officer, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, emphasized the requirement for fishermen to bring construction materials from outside to preserve the Sundarbans' natural resources.
The revenue target for Dublar Char this season is set at Taka eight crore, following the collection of Taka 7,37,22,493 in the previous fiscal year, alongside a dried fish production of 79,602.77 quintals. Forest officials are maintaining constant surveillance to prevent illegal activities under the guise of fishing.