Photo : BSS

KHULNA, Oct 27, 2025 (BSS) – Fishermen are very happy as they are netting huge fish at the Bay of Bengal after beginning of the dry fish season on October 26.

Three Sundarbans islands, including Dublarchar and Alorkol, are now overwhelmed as over 50,000 fishermen are gathering there.

The dry season has begun at three islands, along with Dublarchar, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, for four months – from October 26, 2025, to March 5, 2026.

According to the Department of Forest, Dubla fishing village covers an area of 81 square miles in Alorkol, Majherkilla, Narikelbaria and Shelerchar in the Sundarban East Division. 

At least 80 percent of the country’s dried fish is harvested from Dublarchar. 

More than 10 thousand fishermen have already gathered at Dublarchar for drying fish of various species, including loitta, churi, shrimp, rupchanda and poyas, from the sea.

They would have been catching fish until March 5 in 2026, from October 26 this year.

The Sundarbans East Forest Division has issued passes and permits for over 10 thousand fishermen, who will stay at Dublar Char’s Alorkol, Officekella, Narkelbaria, and Shelar Char for the next four months.

Divisional Forest Officer of East Sundarbans Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said that permission has been granted for 1,040 temporary houses, 80 essential shops, and 61 fish depots on the island.

He said, fishermen were instructed to carry their own materials for building huts and not to use forest trees.

The revenue target from the Dublar Char dry fish operations this season is set at Tk 6 crore, compared to Tk 5.77 crore earned in 2024–25.

A total of 63,541.62 quintals of dry fish were produced last year. The DFO said forest guards are maintaining strict vigilance to prevent wildlife poaching or illegal tree cutting in the Sundarbans.

They have already constructed makeshift shelters, fish-drying yards, and small jetties for unloading fish, without using or cutting any forest trees.

The forest department has warned that any violation of this rule will lead to legal action.

Mohiuddin Molla, a fisherman of the Southkhali area, said, “Whatever we earn from four months of fishing feeds our families for the entire year. But with increasing risks in the forest, we fear for our safety.”

Freedom Fighter Mohammad Kamal Uddin, who is also chairman of Dubla Fishermen’s Group, from Alorkol today afternoon , said, “The dry season has started well in Dublarchar. The fishermen are catching a lot of fish in the first two days due to favourable weather. This year, more than 10 thousand fishermen have come to the Dublarchar region.”

“Pirates have become a concern among fishermen. To control pirates, we have already submitted an application seeking patrolling of the police, Coast Guard and RAB,” he added.

Saiful Islam, secretary of the Shelarchar Fishermen’s Cooperative in Rampal, said they take loans each year to join the dry fish trade.

“This year too, we came to the Shelarchar dry fish zone after borrowing money. Fishermen have already started fishing,” he said.

Motashim Farazi, president of the Alorkol Fishermen’s Cooperative, said over the phone that on the very first day of the season, fishermen were busy building makeshift huts while others went to sea. “They are happy to get a good catch on Sunday and Monday,” he added.

Forester Tanvir Hasan Imran, in charge of the Alorkol patrol outpost, said fishermen wasted no time after arrival.

“They immediately went to sea, and now many have begun drying their catch on bamboo racks or on plastic sheets,” he added.