[WATCH NOW] Healthy shutki returns to famous dry fish market in Ctg

Your nose will tell you where you are. Your eyes will have a hard time to take in all the different varieties. And the names will leave you wondering why you have not heard of them before. But if you are a shutki lover then Chittagong’s Asadgonj dry fish market is the place for you. 

Sellers display almost all kinds of dry fish. The most popular ones are the Chhuri, Loitta, Icha (shrimp), Lakka, Rupchanda, Poa, Painshha, Rita/Kata, Ulua, Hilsha, Shurma, Moilla etc. You can find "Balachao," the ever popular dry fish savoury, here too.

The centuries old famous Asadgonj dry fish market has returned to its previous glory of quality dry fish because there are a few cold storages here now that help traders preserve the fish without pesticide or dyes.

Around 200 to 250 traders and 50 wholesalers sell their dry fish in this market at a price way cheaper than any other markets of the country.

Traders say, production of dry fishes have gone down due to over-fishing, pollution of rivers and the sea and pirate attacks on the fishermen.

“Today our country imports dry fish from India, Myanmar and Pakistan and some other countries to meet 60 percent of local demands,” Jamal Hossain notes. He adds, the country annually consumes around 54000 tonnes of dry fish.

Winter is the peak season and sacks of fish come in from Sundarban's Dublarchar, Rangabali, Cox's Bazar's Kutubdia, Sonadia, Saint Martin, Moheskhali, Teknaf and other coastal area of Chittagong. The best fish is from Rangabali and Sonadia. You have to pay a premium price for it too.

Traders say the flavour of dry fish depends on its freshness, origin and size. To get the best dry fish at a good price here you must know how to drive a hard bargain.