Photo: BSS

KHULNA, June 14, 2026 (BSS) – The onset of the monsoon has brought freshwater to rivers, canals, wetlands and fish enclosures across the Khulna region, creating favorable conditions for fishing and boosting the sale of traditional fishing nets at Chuknagar Hat, one of the largest and oldest rural markets in Dumuria upazila.

The market, located in a fisheries-rich area, is witnessing a significant increase in demand for Jhaki Jal (cast nets), a popular and environmentally friendly fishing gear used for catching indigenous fish species.

Dumuria upazila is surrounded by numerous fish enclosures and water bodies, resulting in year-round demand for fishing nets. However, with the arrival of the monsoon and the influx of fresh water, fishing activities intensify, creating a festive atmosphere among both professional fishermen and recreational anglers.

A visit to the market on Sunday revealed that cast nets are being sold at varying prices depending on their size, thread quality and craftsmanship.

Large-sized cast nets are priced between Tk 2,000 and Tk 4,500, while medium and small-sized nets are available for Tk 1,000 to Tk 2,000.

Other fishing nets, including Chak Jal and Kona Jal, are also selling well, with prices ranging from Tk 300 to Tk 4,000 and Tk 600 to Tk 1,200 respectively.

Hamid Mia, a fish farmer from Tipna village in Dumuria upazila, said he purchased a high-quality cast net from the market to catch fish in his enclosure and nearby canals during the monsoon season.

Salahuddin Gazi, a local trader whose family has been involved in the net-making business for generations, said demand for traditional thread-made nets has declined somewhat due to the growing use of illegal current nets. However, sales remain strong during the monsoon months when buyers from different areas flock to the market.

Talking to BSS, Dumuria upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Sohel Md. Zillur Rahman Rigan said that the monsoon season creates an enthusiastic fishing environment in local fish enclosures and open water bodies.

“The large-scale trading of cast nets at Chuknagar Hat reflects the continuation of our rural heritage and environmentally friendly fishing practices,” he said.

He noted that cast nets generally do not trap fish fry or juvenile fish, making them less harmful to fish reproduction and aquatic biodiversity.

“We always encourage fish farmers and the general public to avoid banned and destructive fishing gears such as current nets and Chinese duari nets, and instead use traditional and legal fishing equipment,” he added.

Khulna District Fisheries Officer Md. Badruzzaman told BSS that the district is one of the country's important fisheries hubs and that the increased trade of traditional fishing nets at rural markets during the monsoon is contributing positively to the local economy.

“At the same time, our monitoring and enforcement activities against the use of banned nets are continuing. We want fishermen and fish farmers to enrich the fisheries sector through the use of legal and traditional fishing gears such as cast nets,” he said.