Bangladesh is now in a comfortable position in fish and meat production, bringing comfort to the government in ensuring food security.

One can see the Garo hills, green horizon, vast croplands and ponds after ponds from Balia village in Mymensingh’s Phulpur upazila. Once paddy and jute were the main staple crops of this region, but in the last three decades it has flourished in fish farming. Fish production is increasing here even more as new entrepreneurs continue joining the business.

Cheaper varieties of farmed fish, such as climbing gourami, pangasius and tilapia, are major protein sources for the country’s lower and lower-middle class but the recent hike in fuel prices has led to a subsequent rise in their production and transport costs.