Chemical-free shutki in Rangamati

At one time shutki (dried fish) was synonymous with Cox's Bazar, but now neighbouring Rangamati dictrict has become famous for its chemical-free, fresh shutki.

“We don't use any chemical when processing the fish. We use only a little bit of salt when drying fish in the sun,” said Md Yakub Ali, 43, of Kattoli area in  Longudu upazila of the district.

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw different kinds of fish being processed in Kattoli, Maini, Dhaka Tila, Vachonne Adam and Bondhuk Bhanga areas. The fish included chapila, shoal, gojal and shrimp. Around 300 fishermen and labourers are working in different areas of the upazila.

Wholesale price of chapila is Tk 500 per kg, Tk 600 per kg of shrimp and Tk 700 per kg of gojal.

Manager of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) Rangamati Commander Md Assaduzzaman said more than 20 tonnes of dried fish are sent to Dhaka and abroad from Rangamati, the market price of which is about Tk 8.4 lakh.

Md Sharif, 55, a trader from Chittagong, said he buys shutki from here and supplies to different areas in the country.

Lalu Ahmed Sarker said he sends the dried fish at Dhaka's Karwan Bazar, Jamalpur, Saidpur, Sirajganj and Sylhet. The fish are also exported to Dubai, Saudi Arabia and China.

Meherzan, 35, a worker at Kattoli Chutki Mahal, said both male and female workers do the same work but a woman gets only Tk 170 per day while a man gets Tk 200 to Tk 220.

“I come here to work every Friday  and get Tk 150 per day,” said Md Anwar Hossain, a Class VI student of Gonomowr Sena Moitree High School.

Vachonne Adam Union Parishad Chairman Md Hazrat Ali said about 250 families in the upazila are involved in the profession.