Chattogram:Long before dawn, Chattogram's Fisheryghat springs to life as trawlers, boats, and mini-trucks loaded with fish arrive in succession. The bustling market, spanning 3.98 acres between the Chaktai and Rajakhali canals on the Karnaphuli River, sees trade worth Tk 100 crore each day by the time the sun rises.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Fisheryghat is one of the largest wholesale fish markets in the country. Initially focused on sea-caught fish, it has expanded over the past decade to include farmed fish from across the nation, becoming a central hub for fish from the sea, rivers, ponds, and commercial fisheries.
Despite the vibrant trade, a debt trap known as dadon looms over the market. Depot owners provide advance loans to fund fishing trips, covering the costs of trawlers and boats. These loans come with the stipulation that all catches must be sold at the lender's depot. This system traps both boat owners and fishermen, leaving them with minimal profits while the majority goes to depot and boat owners.
Even in the early morning, the market is bustling with activity as fish-laden trawlers dock at the wharf. Laborers unload fish, and the air is filled with the sounds of negotiations and haggling. Various types of fish, including hilsa, pomfret, and shrimp, are seen everywhere. The market also caters to farmed fish, brought in by small trucks from ponds and water bodies across the country.
The wharf is also home to a thriving ice trade, essential for preserving the freshness of the catch. Workers break up ice blocks and mix them into baskets of fish for transit, providing livelihoods for many involved in ice production and distribution.
Thousands of people, including retailers and wholesalers, gather at the wharf daily. Fish are packed in ice and transported to markets across the country. The financial system at the heart of this trade is built on dadon, centered on the wharf's 103 wholesale depots.
Anwar Hossain, former president of the Old Fisheryghat Traders' Association, explained that the depots, managed by members of the Sonali Mechanized Fishermen's Cooperative Society, provide advance credit to boats. Mohammad Selim of Messrs Shah Omar Trading noted that the advances across the depots exceed Tk 100 crore, matching the daily fish trade value. This investment ensures a continuous fish supply, underpinning the local economy.