Fish dry season at Dublarchar ends

The five-month-long fish dry season at Dublarchar has officially ended, and many fishermen and fish traders are returning home, most facing financial losses. According to the forest department, this year’s revenue target will not be met.

The fish dry season in Dublarchar usually begins in November and ends on March 31, but this year, the forest department extended it by eight days until April 8 in response to fishermen’s requests.

Dublarchar comprises several islands-including Alorkol, Majherkella, Shelarchar, and Narikelbaria-situated in the Bay of Bengal and connected to the Eastern Sundarbans. Fishermen gather here to catch fish from the sea and dry them in the Dublarchar fish-drying village.

This year, around 10,000 fishermen gathered at Dublarchar. Motasim Faraji, president of the Rampal Fishermen’s Association of Alorkol, Farid Mia of Majherkella, Taher Ali of Alorkol, Abdul Khalek of Narikelbaria, and Abdur Rahim of Shelarchar said that while a few managed to do reasonably well, the majority returned home facing heavy losses.
Freedom fighter Md. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, president of the Dubla Fishermen Groups, said 99% of the fishermen are returning home with debts owed to moneylenders. He explained that natural disasters in the first seven months and strong westerly winds along with fear of pirates in the final three months prevented fishermen from catching enough fish. Despite this, the forest department increased revenue targets, adding to the burden on fishermen.
Forester Dilip Majumder, officer-in-charge of the Shelarchar Forest Patrol Outpost, confirmed that the five-month season has ended. Most fishermen have left, dismantling temporary shelters and loading goods onto boats and trawlers. All remaining fishermen must vacate Dublarchar by April 8.
The officer-in-charge of the Dublarchar Forest Patrol Outpost stated that the forest department extended the season beyond March 31 as a special consideration for the fishermen. Revenue collection from July to March totaled only Tk. 62,952,000, compared to Tk. 72,379,990 last year. The shortfall is attributed to a lack of fish in the sea, natural disasters, and fishermen avoiding the sea due to fear of pirates.