Long before the morning light breaks, the fish markets in Chandanaish, Chattogram, buzz with intense activity, wrapping up millions of takas in trade just as the sun rises. This daily morning hustle begins at 5:00 AM across the key fish wholesale hubs located in the heart of Chandanaish Municipality, Dohazari Municipality, and Hashimpur Union.
Recent on-site visits over the past few days revealed that trucks loaded with fish start arriving from various parts of the country beginning at 3:00 AM. Immediately after the Fajr prayer, the markets become vibrant with the loud calls and bargaining of wholesalers and retailers. By 7:00 AM, almost no fish is left at the docks.
Fish Arrive From All Over the Country:
Speaking with market commission agents, it was learned that trucks laden with fish arrive daily not only from local areas like Chandanaish, Patiya, Satkania, Chakaria, and Banshkhali, but also from distant regions such as Satkhira, Khulna, and Cox's Bazar. The markets overflow with at least 20 species of fish, including Rui, Catla, Mrigel, Tilapia, Pangas, Shrimp, and Barramundi (Koral).
Hazrat Shah Amin Ullah Fish Merchant Commission Agent Suppliers (No. 1 Godi) in the Chandanaish Municipality market stands as the largest wholesale hub in the area.
Saiful Islam, manager of the enterprise, stated, "Ours is a dawn business. Fish arrival starts from 3:00 AM, and trade peaks right after the Fajr prayer. In our two warehouses alone, an average of 5 to 10 million (5 to 10 lakh) takas worth of fish are sold daily. Across the entire market, this figure exceeds 3 million (30 lakh) takas. By 7:00 AM, there is virtually no fish left."
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Livelihoods for Over a Hundred Families:
Centering around this morning market, the livelihoods of over a hundred families are sustained. Wholesalers arriving in the early hours procure these catches and transport them to retail markets across Chattogram city, Patiya, Satkania, Bandarban, and Lohagara upazila.
A local wholesaler remarked, "If you don't buy fish in the early morning, you won't get fresh and good quality catch. That's why I arrive at the market by 5:00 AM every day."
Local conscious citizens believe that if the government implements modern sheds, proper drainage systems, and cold storage facilities, these markets could generate millions of takas in annual revenue, establishing the Chandanaish and Dohazari municipal markets as the premier wholesale fish hubs in southern Chattogram.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Md. Nurul Alam Chandanaish (Chattogram) Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
