Local Kunchiya fish being exported to many countries

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Most of the people of Bangladesh do not like to eat kunchiya fish even though they know it. But there is a lot of demand for it abroad. Again, it has popularity somewhere in Bangladesh. The fish is known in different areas as Kunicha, Kuichcha, Kunche, Kuncho etc. But its scientific name is Monopterus cuchia. Like the eel species, this fish usually lives at the bottom of ponds, ditches, ditches, canals or paddy fields. Gnats often live in burrows in the ground. A kunchiya can weigh up to one and a half to two kg at most. A hunter can hunt from two to eight kg of mullet in a day. November to June is the best season for fishing. This kunchia fish has now brought blessings to some of the small ethnic groups of Ishwardi.
Although most of the people of Bangladesh dislike it, the Agricultural Information Service has said that this fish, which looks like a snake, is rich in nutrients. It works like a herbal medicine to cure many diseases including physical weakness, anemia, asthma, diabetes, rheumatic fever, piles.
Ishwardi Kunchia is now being exported abroad. Kunchia hunting is one of the occupations of the small ethnic groups of Ishwardi upazila. Blessings for those from minority groups involved in this profession as it are exported abroad. A market has developed in the Kalikapur market for the sale of kunchia. From here it is sent to Dhaka twice a week. This kunchia is sent from Dhaka to various countries including China, Thailand, Japan.
It is known that the main occupation of the ancestors of Kunchia hunters was animal hunting. Besides, they used to cultivate corn. Maize rice, wild boar and rabbit meat were the daily food. Hunting of these animals has now almost stopped with the reduction of forests. There has been a change of profession due to the urge of life and livelihood. Day laborers in the farmlands are now their main occupation. Besides, many people are making a living by hunting turtles and turtles.
Turtles are now rarely seen in the water bodies, almost on the verge of extinction. 35-40 families of the small ethnic group of Ishwardi are now making a living by hunting kunchiya. Others depend on agriculture. Sufficient quantity of kunchia fish is caught in Patirajpur, Marmi, Faridpur, Saraikandi, Gopalpur along with Khidirpur, Rajapur and surrounding areas of Ishwardi upazila.
Mahan Biswas, Ruben Biswas and Palash Biswas complained that we do not get the opportunity to work in any respectable profession just because we are a small ethnic group. Forced to save life, I chose this profession. Fishing is our livelihood.
Dilip Biswas of Marmi village in Dashuria union has been hunting Kunchia for ten years. Earlier they caught themselves for eating, but now it has become a profession. If the forehead is good, some days it can catch up to 7-8 kg. He said, the market price of kunchia is not the same. Fluctuates between Tk 150-200 per kg. Before Corona, it was Tk 250 per kg. Now the price is not more than 200 taka.