The second-largest city, Chittagong, has the biggest wholesale market for marine and freshwater fish. This place is known as Chattagram Fishery Ghat, which was established 200 years ago. It was founded by the Portuguese. They created this market when business was needed in Chattagram, and they got the right to collect port duty. The traditional Chattagram Fishery Ghat has two locations. The location of the Fishery Ghat on Iqbal Road in Patharghata has been changed to a newer and larger scale Fishery Ghat at Lusai Kanya at the mouth of Rajakhali on the banks of the Karnafuli River. Depending on the season, different types of fish are traded every night from 3 pm to 8 am. In this market, the fish comes from every district, which is later transported to other corners of the country. And that is why the Chattagram Fishery Ghat is full of fish merchants. The fish worth millions are traded.
Ghat Management
The shouting starts as soon as the trawler filled with fish reaches the shore of fishery ghat. Then one by one, the baskets of fish are unloaded in large plastic basins. There is so much busyness around the Ghat at this time that there is no time to look at anyone else. There is bargaining, shouting on the fish’s name to pick up the fish from one truck to another in a rush. Fish is supplied at a wholesale rate to other parts of the country from the Chattagram Fishery Ghat. Wholesalers from all over the country come to this market. However, not only in the country, but fish is also exported from this Ghat outside the country. Many fish traders have entered into agreements with the warehouse keepers of this Ghat and are constantly exporting these fresh fish of different species abroad.
Apart from the country, fish also comes to the Chattagram fishery ghat from Myanmar and India. It is like a massive carnival of fresh marine and freshwater fish. However, wholesalers and retailers of Chittagong port city also buy marine fish from this Ghat and take it to different local markets and sell it. From where fish lovers can buy the fish of their choice. This Ghat has a total of four jetties. One of them is managed by Chittagong City Corporation. The remaining three have been leased by the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA). These fishing trawlers have to pay taka 200 per trip and 2 per cent of the fish sold to CDA.
Collection of different fish
There are about 220 Bazar at this fishery ghat in Rajakhali on the banks of river Karnafuli in Chittagong. However, there are six warehouses in the old fishery wharf. Most of the old market is now doing business with the warehouse in the new market. And so no fish is not available in this new market. Marine fish include Lakkha, Hilsa, Koi, coral, Datina coral, red snapper, Bhetki, Surma, Cuttlefish, Tailanda, Maitta, chewa, desi squid, rupchanda (Pomfret), Mackerel, Shrimp, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, Lobster Cod, Knife, Popa, Faisya, Laita etc.
All types of fish are available at Chattagram fishery ghat. Apart from marine fish, all the native shrimp, Chapa and Chapila fish also come to this Ghat. On the other hand, among the freshwater fish, Rui, Katla, Boal( Helicopter Catfish), Koi, Magur( Walking Catfish), Shing, Tilapia, Kachki, Baila, Baim, Mailla, Putti fish collected from the pond-farm are also found in this fishery ghat. It is almost impossible for fancy fish buyers not to come to this Ghat, where so many types of fish are available. Wholesalers, as well as general buyers, come here every morning in search of fresh fish.
Means of Livelihood
As soon as the light of dawn appears, suddenly the change can be seen of this place. The Chattagram fishery Ghat is the workplace for many fishmongers, porters, tea-sellers, Betal leaf sellers and shopping bag sellers. In addition, several people work every day at this Ghat to repair nets. This fishery ghat is their livelihood. There is cold storage developed around this market where fish is stored. There are also several restaurants on the Ghat. Around half a million peoples livelihood is connected to this fish market. About 10000 fishing boats and hundreds of trawlers of Chattgaram filled with fish is sold in this market.
Fishery Ghat during the Hilsa season
At certain seasons the Ghat becomes so busy that it becomes hard to breathe. When it is Hilsa catching season, it gets exceptional. As the period from August to October is the season for catching Hilsa, more fish are traded in huge quantities at these warehouses. This fishery ghat is very popular as one of the big warehouses for Hilsa fish.
Hilsa fish is brought to the Ghat in small, medium and large trucks, and the traders call for auction. In this case, the person who said the highest price became the truck’s owner loaded with fish and later took these trucks weighing 30-35 pounds to different country markets. This wharf needs ice to keep the fish fresh. Each piece of ice weighing 20 to 25 kg is sold here for 700-800 Takas. However, if the price of fish goes up, then the cost of ice also goes up. In addition to fish trading, there is also a system to cut fish at this Ghat. The traditional Chattagram fishery Ghat in Bangladesh is therefore well known for its fresh marine and freshwater fish.
