Ctg's Asadganj thrives on 75 varieties of dried fish, Tk100cr weekly trade
The century-old market not only caters to the country’s demand but also exports to India, the Middle East, the United States, and several other destinations
Chattogram's Asadganj Shutki Potti, the largest dried fish trading hub in Bangladesh, is bustling with weekly transactions worth around Tk100 crore.
The century-old market not only caters to the country's demand but also exports to India, the Middle East, the United States, and several other destinations.
Dried fish varieties such as loitta, shrimp, coral, rupchanda, and hilsa arrive here from coastal regions including Chattogram, Dublar Char in the Sundarbans, Maheshkhali, Teknaf of Cox's Bazar, and Hatiya of Noakhali.
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Imported varieties from India and Myanmar are also available to meet diverse consumer preferences.
The market mainly operates on Saturdays and Tuesdays, with peak trading on Saturdays when traders and buyers from across the country converge on the area.
According to traders, about 2 lakh kg of dried fish are traded on each market day, with 70% medium-priced and 30% premium varieties like loitta, chhuri, shrimp, and rupchanda.
Peak dried fish season begins
As the peak trading season for dried fish gets underway, Asadganj has come alive with brisk business.
According to Mohammad Yasin, a leader of the Asadganj Dried Fish Traders Association, traders typically stock dried fish in mid-October, while November to January marks the busiest period. "During this time, each wholesaler sells up to 50,000 kilograms of dried fish per week," he told TBS.
Currently, the market houses around 40 wholesale and 300 retail shops, employing thousands of workers in unloading, drying, packing, and transporting fish. It offers 40–75 varieties, including loitta, chhuri, shrimp, and rupchanda, sourced from rivers, ponds, and the sea.
Loitta sells for Tk400–1,200 per kg, red shrimp for Tk2,000–2,200, chhuri for Tk200–2,000, and rupchanda for Tk2,000–4,000 per kg. The premium laksha shutki commands the highest price, ranging between Tk5,000 and Tk8,000 per kg.
Struggles to retain its glory
For generations, wholesalers at Asadganj have kept the dried fish trade alive, exporting to countries such as the United States, Malaysia, Thailand, and Qatar after meeting local demand.
Traders say the once-bustling market has lost much of its former vibrancy.
"Traders once came from across the country to buy dried fish here," said Md Ibrahim, president of the Asadganj Dried Fish Wholesalers' Association. "Now, new hubs in Dhaka and Cumilla have slowed the market."
He added that most wholesalers now sell on credit, with delayed payments creating instability in the business.
Tk400cr dried fish exported in 5-yr
Traders said the business earns crores of taka in foreign currency every year, with India remaining Bangladesh's top market for dried fish and fishmeal over the past five years.
According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), between FY2020-21 and FY2024-25, Bangladesh earned around $33.73 million — equivalent to about Tk408.25 crore (at Tk121 per USD) — from dried fish exports. Export earnings stood at $8.38 million in FY2020-21, $7.26 million in FY2021-22, $5.28 million in FY2022-23, $6.35 million in FY2023-24, and $6.47 million in FY2024-25, showing year-on-year fluctuations.
India imported the lion's share during this period, purchasing dried fish worth $26.70 million (around Tk323.07 crore). Hong Kong ranked second with imports totalling $5.30 million (about Tk64.13 crore). Other destinations included China ($0.60 million), Thailand ($0.21 million), Singapore ($0.20 million), the United States ($0.05 million), Myanmar ($0.07 million), Oman ($0.07 million), and Qatar ($0.04 million).
Smaller shipments also went to Lebanon, the Maldives, Malaysia, the UAE, Spain, South Korea, and Canada.
