Teknaf, Bangladesh: Bangladeshis depend on fish imports from Burma. Without the cheap Burmese imports, the people of Bangladesh are unable to buy fish for their daily food as the price of local fish is skyrocketing, said a trader from Teknaf.
However, even though plenty of fish is imported from Burma, its price still remains unaffordable for many Bangladeshis, said a consumer from Chittagong.
Most of the fish, including salmon, carp, and shrimp, are being imported to Bangladesh from Burma. These fish are first brought to Teknaf and then to Chittagong, Dhaka, and other places across the country. Bangladesh also earns good revenue from importing fish from the Teknaf land port.
The retail sellers in Chittagong sell at the rate of 160 to 200 takas per kilogram. Most of the customers prefer Burmese carp and salmon, said a retail seller from Chittagong.
When the Burmese fish are in short supply in the markets of Chittagong, the price of local fish shoots up, said another fish trader from Chittagong.
Burma also exports fish to Thailand, and the people along the border of Mae Sot also depend on Burmese fish, according to a source in Mae Sot.
Burma has a long culture of fishing, and if the government systematically develops the fish market, it will earn a lot of money by exporting fish to other countries.
