Hatia is an isolated island upazila of Noakhali. The island is bordered by the Meghna River and the Bay of Bengal. During the season, fishermen on the island catch a variety of marine fish in their nets, but this time there are more fish than other fish. Which has surpassed the record of last 8-10 years. In the current season, about 36 thousand tons of Chewya dried fish has been produced in 15 ghats of the upazila. Its market value is about 3 hundred crore Tk. Demand for this specialty has grown significantly. The fishermen of this town meet half of the demand for Chewya fish in the country. Not only Chewya fish and dried fish, but also various ghats are famous for seasonal hilsa. Throughout the year, various species of sea fish and dried fish are produced in the region. Despite all this, the local fishermen are constantly suffering due to the underdeveloped communication system. Their demand is that if the communication system is improved, the production of their dried fish will increase several times more than at present. Stakeholders have demanded the installation of a radar light at the main Ghat Janglia. However, the Upazila Fisheries Department does not have any exact information about the workers involved in Chewya fish, dried fish production and work and dry fish production.
According to the locals, in addition to fish, the number of fishermen has increased in the production of Chewya fish compared to last year. The work of drying and producing this Chewya is carried on about 5000 acres of land in the chars adjacent to different ghats of the upazila. It takes three to four days to produce dried fish in the sun after picking it from the river. After dry production, it is first covered in large piles. It is then weighed and stored in sacks of different sizes and sold wholesale.
Speaking to those involved in the production of Chewya dried fish, it is learned that since the beginning of this season, a large number of chewy fish have been caught in the Meghna River and the Bay of Bengal. From Jangalia Ghat, Jahajmara Ghat, Kadiria Ghat, Burirdona Ghat, Suryamukhi Ghat, Danardon Ghat, Kazirghat, Amtali Ghat, Katakhali Ghat, Rahmat Bazar Ghat, Namar Bazar, Cheuakhali Ghat, Bazar Khal, Dubai Khal and Muktaria Ghat every day. About three hundred and fifty engine driven boats used to go to sea. Each boat has 2 sailors, 25 sailors and a fisherman. At least 9,500 people are involved in boat fishing. More than 1000 workers of different ages are working to prevent the selection of small and big fish for making dried fish. Apart from seasonal fishermen, people of different professions including vehicle owners and workers are also involved in this work. In Ghatguro, there are 85 wholesalers of shuntki and at least 300 retailers. Besides, at least 50 large wholesalers from different parts of the country including Mymensingh, Gazipur, Tangail, Comilla, Chandpur, Muktagachha, Trishal Bhairab, Barisal, Bhola, Dhaka, Chittagong came to buy dried fruits.
They complained that even though thousands of tons of dried fish were produced on the island, no official of the Upazila Fisheries Department kept us informed. Although the problems of ghats and roads have been reported to the Fisheries Office through the local people's representatives, these problems are not being solved year after year.
Hatia Upazila Fisheries Officer Anil Chandra Das said no details have been made yet about the production of chewing gum this season. It can be said after taking the production information from the fishermen. Necessary steps will be taken to talk to the higher authorities if their problems are found in writing. Asked how many families or people involved in the profession were receiving any kind of government assistance, the official said, "We do not have any statistics on the number of people involved in chewing fish and dried fish production." And since there is no government allocation for them, it is not possible to cooperate.
