Recent years have seen an increase in the prices of raw fish, leading to an increase in the price of dried fish. Traders and exporters said rising prices also affect dry fish exports.
Traders of Asadganj said that many fishermen have given up fishing and started doing other work. Moreover, traders believe that selling of raw fish is more profitable than selling of dried fish since communication is developed. As a result, fish is exported from India and Myanmar, driving up prices, he said.
Chattogram-based RDS International started exporting dried fish in 1999. Mohammad Aziz Ullah, managing director of RDS International, said the prothom alo price of dried fish in neighboring countries is low, resulting in a decline in exports from Bangladesh. Apart from this, due to the high price of raw fish, the prices of dry fish are also high in the country. However, he said, there is global demand for dry fish from Bangladesh due to its quality.
*This report appeared in the print and online editions of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Hasnul Banna
