Barguna’s dried fish workers stare at bleak future amid low wage, poor accommodation

As far as the eye can see, there are fields of dried fish. Workers are busy on specially designed platforms for drying the fish.

In these platforms, women and comparatively younger workers are more valued because their wages are lower than those of older men.

One such teenager, Hasan, was cleaning a pile of fish on the platform. After a conversation, he shared the difficulties he was facing.

Hasan said, "It's been two and a half months since I started working. Right now, very few fish are coming to the village. With fewer fish, there's also less work. That's why, even after working for two and a half months, I haven't earned a single penny."

He added, "If the dried fish sales don't start, we won't be paid either."

Hasan works here during the dried fish season, but during the monsoon season, he goes to the sea on a fishing trawler. He spoke with TBS at the dried fish settlement near Fakirhat, by the Payra River, in Taltali upazila, Barguna.

This dried fish settlement is one of the key dried fish production areas in the southern region. For several decades, temporary dried fish fields have been established here during the dry season. Alongside Fakirhat, areas like Asharchor, Sonakata, Jayalbhanga, and Moranidra, with 65 dried fish fields, have brought economic prosperity to the region.

Employment for 12,000 people

These fields, developed on the khas land along the riverbank, collectively form each dried fish settlement. Although workers are involved in different professions at other times of the year, the work of setting up the fields begins in mid-October.

Bellal Hossain, a dried fish trader from Asharchor, said, "Work starts in the village at the beginning of November. At that time, 3,000 to 4,000 migrant workers from various parts of the country came to our area. Along with these workers, fishermen, traders, business owners, and transport workers, between 12,000 and 15,000 people find employment in the dried fish settlements of the upazila."

Monir Hossain, a worker from Jamalpur, said, "Many people come with their entire families and build temporary huts on the riverbanks while working in the dried fish fields. I came alone. A few of us have built a makeshift house and stay there."

"Our wages are negotiated. When the dry season arrives, the wholesalers from Taltali contact us by phone to let us know how many workers they need. We then come together and head to the fields. Typically, women and young workers, who can do less strenuous work, earn Tk300 per day, while male workers earn Tk500."

Demand for Taltali's dried fish abroad

"Unlike other regions, where preservatives are used to keep dried fish fresh for long periods, no chemicals are used in Taltali, Patharghata, or Kuakata," said Kamal Hossain, a worker from Fakirhat.

He said that the dried fish from the southern region is free of chemicals, which makes it more desirable and flavorful than those from other areas. "Once dried, we pack the fish and load it onto vehicles for transport to Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Syedpur, Jamalpur, Munshiganj and other regions, as well as other parts of Barishal," he added.

Taltali Fisheries Officer Victor Bain said that dried fish is a significant economic resource for the region. The area is known for producing "Bhola shrimp," a small shrimp variety that dries quickly. While larger fish take longer to dry, the dried fish produced here is exported to countries such as the USA, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Dubai, where demand is steadily increasing.

Dried fish trader Amir Hossain said, "We small traders sell our products to large traders in Chattogram, and they export them abroad. Previously, frozen shrimp exports were more prominent, leading to higher demand in that sector. However, the demand for dried fish has increased significantly now."

One lakh maunds of dried fish in four months

In Taltali's dried fish villages, activities peak from November to the end of March, lasting for four months. During this time, each field produces 150 to 200 maunds of dried fish weekly. Locals estimated that if weather conditions remain favourable, it is possible to produce 1,00,000 to 1,20,000 maunds of dried fish in four months. However, this target is not achieved every year.

Dulal Hawladar, a dried fish trader with 30 years of experience, said, "There is immense potential for dried fish production here. Although Taltali's dried fish villages play a vital role in the local economy, we face many challenges. Natural disasters often result in significant losses. Since these villages are situated along the Payra River, far from the Taltali upazila headquarters, the transportation infrastructure is extremely poor. At times, we have to pay extra for trucks to transport goods."

Workers face numerous challenges

Although the dried fish villages become bustling during the production season, workers coming here in search of work face various difficulties. The most significant challenges include the lack of proper accommodation, access to clean drinking water, and hygienic sanitation facilities.

Piara Begum, who has been working in the dried fish villages for about 25 years, said, "Although both men and women work equally here, there are no toilet facilities for women. Men can go anywhere as needed, but we women cannot. If tube wells were installed for drinking water, it would save us from much hardship."

Shahidul Islam said, "When the dried fish season begins, countless male and female workers work together. If any of us falls ill, the poor road conditions make it difficult to get them to a hospital quickly. Even to fetch medicine from the nearest shop, we have to pay almost Tk200 for transportation."

Current market prices of dried fish

In Taltali, dried fish is prepared from around 25 species of fish, including notable ones like Rupchanda, Churi, Coral, Surma, Loitta, Popa, and Bhula. In the local market, the prices per kilogram are as follows: Churi dried fish is sold for Tk800 to Tk900, Rupchanda for Tk1,000, Loitta for Tk900 to Tk1,000, shrimp for Tk700 to Tk800, and other smaller fish varieties range from Tk300 to Tk550.

What the relevant departments say

Discussions on the challenges and opportunities of the dried fish settlements in Taltali upazila were held with Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Umme Salma. She said, "Currently, the amount of dried fish supplied from Taltali is significant, but we aim to increase this volume and supply dried fish to various regions across the country. I have visited the dried fish settlements and arranged free medical services for the women working there. I have identified various issues faced by the workers through discussions."

She further said, "To support them, we plan to construct public toilets in the dried fish settlements. Initiatives will also be taken to install tube wells through the Public Health Engineering Department to ensure access to safe drinking water. Moreover, efforts will be made to improve transportation facilities through rural infrastructure or the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED)."

Barguna District Fisheries Officer Md Mohsin said, "In fiscal 2023-24, a total of 3,038 tonnes of dried fish were exported from across the country. Of this, 2,962 tonnes were regular dried fish, and 76.5 tonnes were salted dried fish. The export value of these dried fish was Tk76,56,31,503. Taltali in Barguna produces a significant amount of dried fish, contributing to economic prosperity. However, since these settlements are approximately 20 kilometres away from the Taltali upazila headquarters, the transportation system is not well-developed, and necessary facilities are yet to be established. I will make efforts to discuss with the relevant departments to ensure infrastructural development in this economically vital region."