Due to the corona epidemic, export of crabs and eels (Kuche) to China has been suspended for more than six months. On the one hand, as the government is losing crores of taka in revenue, 10,000 families in the district involved in the crab industry have suffered huge losses and are struggling with the pressure of bank loans.
In this situation, crab traders and farmers formed a human chain on Cox's Bazar-Chattogram highway in Chakaria Upazila Sadar of Cox's Bazar demanding resumption of crab export to China by resolving the administrative complexities of the ministry.
The human chain programme was held at Bhangarmukh area of Chakaria Municipality at around 10 am on Sunday by Chakaria Crab Production Supply Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
Thousands of crab traders and farmers from Badarkhali, Darbeshkata, Choarphandi, Rampur, Machghat, Charandwip, Khutakhali, Dulahazara, Malumghat, Pekua and Chakaria municipalities of Chakaria upazila took part in the human chain programme.
During the human chain programme the highway was blocked for about 30 minutes, so vehicles on both sides of the road had to face difficulties to reach their destinations. However, after the end of the human chain programme, the traffic on the highway became normal.
President of Bangladesh Crab Suppliers Traders Association and member of Cox's Bazar Zila Parishad Abu Tayyab presided over the programme while Organising Secretary of the organisation Patol Barua conducted it.
Cox's Bazar Zila Parishad Panel Chairman and Chakaria Municipal AL President Jahedul Islam Litu, Chakaria Shromik League President Jamal Islam, Chakaria Crab Association Advisor Ismail Saudagar, Shashank Barua spoke at the time among others.
Speakers at the human chain demanded that the crab traders get financial incentives and interest-free loans from the government. They called on the Prime Minister to immediately resume crab export activities to save the crab industry from extinction and to normalize the livelihood of the traders and farmers concerned. The crab traders also demanded allotment of government Khas land for crab cultivation.
