SM Shahidul Islam, Satkhira
Due to adverse impact of Coronavirus, several thousand people of Southern region of the country are facing debacle as the export of Crab and Kuchia fish to China remained suspended for weeks.
According to sources, the export of crab and kuchia remained suspended to China from January 25 last. As a result, thousands of people rely on catching of crab and kuchia are facing extreme misery. Now, the export of those being stopped, they cannot even sell the crab at Taka 300 per kilogramme as against the previous price of Taka 2,000 per kilogramme and the Kuchia fish at Taka 200 as against the previous price of Taka 800 to 1,000 per kilogramme.
Hemanta Dolui, proprietor of Hemanta Enterprise informed, he has been dealing in crab and kuchia at Parulia Bazaar for last six-year. Small traders from Ujirpur, Gazirhat, Badartola, Kulia and Parulia used to sell crab and kuchia to the traders of Parulia Bazaar. Earlier, the price of Kuchia was from Tk 200 to 300 per kilogramme and the Crab at Tk 200 to 400 according to grade and size but for the last couples of years, Kuchia and crab are being exported to various countries including in China.
In China the crab was exported at Tk 800 to 2,000 per kilogramme according to size and quality while the Kuchia at Tk 8,000 to 1,000. He further said, he used to send five to six metric tonnes of Kuchia at Uttara in Dhaka after every two to three-day to export those to China. But, from last 25 January, export of the Kuchia and Crab has been suspended and they were now collecting only 30 to 40 kilogramme of Kuchia after every two days. But, due to absence of customers, those Kuchia are also dying. Fishermen of Munshiganj, Kalabari and Burigoalini under Shyamnagar upazila were using dead and dried Kuchia to catch crabs. The dried kuchia is also being sold at Tk 250 to 300 per kg.
Kutchia and crab traders Sandip Poit, Prosenjit Mondol and Abul Kashem at Parulia Bazaar said, hundreds of traders along with kuchia and crab collectors were now leading a hard life as the prices of kuchia and crab has gone down beyond their apprehension.
Sunil Bhuiyan of Daskin Parulia informed, he used to collect and store Kutchia for last 12-year and sends those to Dhaka. Now, there having no demand of the fish, most of those are dying and they were incurring a huge loss.
Basudev Mondol, Assistant General Secretary of Satkhira District Crab Traders Association informed, they used to send crab and kuchia to various companies in Dhaka who export those to China and North Korea. Now, the export being suspended from January-25, more than Taka 100 million (10 crore) remained dues to the traders in Dhaka.
He said if the export to crab and Kuchia is not started immediately, several hundred people involved with the trade and collection of those would simply starve or will be forced to join to anti-social activities for their survival.
Moniruzzaman, Senior Fisheries Officer of Satkhira informed, the Bangladeshi kuchia and crab exporters would get an outstanding amount of Tk 150 crore from the Chinese importers. They are now worried at the present situation of Coronavirus spread in China.
