Mohammad Shahjahan Chowdhury, Managing Director of Riverain Fish and Food Processing Industries Ltd, has been elected as the new BFFEA president. A seasoned figure in the Bangladesh seafood industry, he is expected to lead initiatives to enhance export capacity and tackle sectoral challenges.

Joining him are Md Tariqul Islam Zaheer, Managing Director of Achia Sea Foods Ltd, as Senior Vice-President, and two regional vice-presidents: Sk Kamrul Alam of Rupali Sea Foods Ltd (Khulna region) and Dodul Kumar Datta of Pacific Sea Foods Ltd (Chattogram region)—representing Bangladesh’s two key seafood processing zones.

The BFFEA new committee for 2025 also includes number of directors:

• Md Masudur Rahman (Sea Fresh Ltd)
• MA Hassan Panna (Fahim Seafood Processing & Farming Ltd)
• Md Jalal Uddin (Crimson Rosella Seafood Ltd)
• Adhir Ranjan Das (Anraj Fish Products Industries Ltd)
• Mohammad Abu Shahriar (BD Seafood Ltd)
• Syed Badruzzaman (Salam Sea Foods Ltd)
• SM Akhtaruzzaman (Glacies Food Ltd)
• AKM Fazlul Haque (Trust Seafood Industries Ltd)
• Md Sofiulla Khan (Rupsha Fish & Allied Industries Ltd)
• Md Shohel S Hussain (Aqua Fisheries Ltd)
• Arman Hasan (Ark Sea Foods Ltd)

With only 25% of shrimp processing plants currently active in Khulna and Chattogram, due to raw material shortages and financial constraints, the seafood export sector in Bangladesh is at a turning point. The new BFFEA leadership is expected to promote innovation, ensure sustainable sourcing, and strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global frozen seafood trade.

The BFFEA, which includes over 200 member companies, plays a pivotal role in advocating for exporters, improving market access, and shaping regulatory frameworks for the Bangladesh shrimp exporters community.

With this transition, stakeholders hope the new BFFEA committee 2025 will help unlock opportunities, expand Bangladesh’s export markets, and revitalize the country’s role as a leading player in the international seafood industry.

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Chandra revealed that due to this flood a total of 16,864 aquaculture ponds spanning 5,541 hectares in Chittagong have been severely affected. The floods have washed away approximately 16,595 metric tons of fish, along with 1.4 million various fish fry and 0.2 million shrimp fry. Additionally, infrastructure damage cost amounts to several hundred thousands.

One of the most significant losses has occurred at the Muhuri Project in Mirsarai, known as the largest aquaculture project in Bangladesh. This project, which supplies more than half of Chittagong’s fish, has seen its 6,000-acre reservoir completely devastated by the floodwaters. The natural fishery of the Halda River has also been affected, with large-sized Rohu fish dispersing into different water bodies.

Kamruzzaman Dulal, a farmer from Ichakhali Union, who was heavily invested in the project, shared his ordeal: “I had about 107 acres of fish farms, with an investment of $0.9 million. The floods have washed away all the fish, leaving me with nothing.”

Farmers across the region have reported similar losses, with total damages estimated to many many millions. Dulal, who has been involved in fish farming for eight years, described this as the worst disaster he has ever faced.

Reports from the District Fisheries Officer’s office indicate that the floods have also devastated fisheries in Mirsarai, Fatikchari, Hathazari, Raujan, Sitakunda, and other upazilas. In Mirsarai alone, the aquaculture sector has suffered losses amounting around $12 million. Fatikchari upazila follows with a reported loss of $2.52 million, while Hathazari upazila has incurred damages worth $1 million.

Fatikchari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury reported that floodwaters are entering localities after the Halda River’s dam broke in the Nazirhat area. Overflowing canals are further contributing to the flooding, exacerbating the situation for the local fisheries sector.

This widespread devastation highlights the urgent need for relief measures and support for the affected communities in Chittagong.

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In the broader Chattogram region, including Cox’s Bazar, the Mangrove Horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) is commonly referred to as the “Raj kakra”. Although the species is commonly referred to as a crab, experts believe it is connected to an extinct type of sea scorpion.

Although numerous crab species are cultivated in artificial environments, the Horseshoe crab has yet to be farmed. But recently researchers from Kepley BioSystems, in North Carolina, claim to have created “the proper nutrition, an ideal environment, and the appropriate conditions” for growing wild-caught Horseshoe crabs.

“The Horseshoe crab proved to be an excellent option for growing, and it is now a farm animal that we have progressively learned how to handle. We now know a lot about how long it needs for crabs to survive in captivity: eating, growing, and being friendly to one another. We are also in the midst of identifying the best feed,” said the researchers.

Kepley scientists have been in charge of two independent horseshoe crab trials. One has concentrated on designing meals to promote the immunological health and ongoing support of the arthropods, while the other is investigating the most practical aquaculture system to culture these crabs.

However, for Bangladesh, the farming of horseshoe crabs seems very unrealistic. But with proper conservation techniques, this crab population can be regenerated.

“They are currently becoming extinct off the coast of Bangladesh. Unfortunately, Bangladesh does not have a sophisticated laboratory to maintain such crabs,” said Dr Manjurul Kibria. He also emphasized that the government must take the necessary precautions to conserve this crab.

The disappearance of horseshoe crab from Bangladesh can be attributed to 3 main reasons.

The first one is the negligence and lack of awareness of the fishermen. Every year, millions of horseshoe crabs die in Bihindi nets in the Nazirartek estuary, Maheshkhali channel, and Bankkhali river. This crab is frequently captured in coastal fishing nets and used as a lure for eel and conch shell fishing. This precious animal is also being killed in other areas of the country.

The second reason is the increased anthropogenic activity in the coastal area of Bangladesh. As urbanization and industrialization intensify, they degrade the water, and sediment quality thus affecting the habitat of the horseshoe crab.

The third reason is the most crucial, which is the illegal smuggling of the horseshoe crab.

Because the Horseshoe crab has great economic importance. These animals’ blood and organs are quite expensive on the global market because of amazing beneficial compounds. For this reason, Horseshoe crab crabs are a top target for smugglers due to the high cost of their blood.

The milky-blue blood of the horseshoe crab contains a coagulation agent called Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), which identifies endotoxin in pharmaceutical samples. Even tiny amounts of endotoxin in injections or injectable medications can have harmful effects. This invaluable asset (LAL) is derived from the blue blood of the horseshoe crab and is employed to test vaccines, medicines, and medical devices for bacterial contamination. One litter of Horseshoe crab blood’s current market price is about $16000, evidently shows the value of it for the research labs.

A powerful international smuggling organization has been active in smuggling horseshoe crabs from Bangladesh’s coastal regions to multiple countries, including Thailand. There are certified and experienced technicians among the gangs. In addition to other goods, they reportedly smuggled horseshoe crabs and their blue blood via maritime routes.
According to a source at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, a few fish factories officials had been associated with the crime.

Blood is extracted from horseshoe crabs captured in the Bay of Bengal via a sophisticated technique in laboratories once they have been transported to shore. After that by speedboat or trawler, the blue blood is shipped to fishing vessels. As well as the legs of horseshoe crabs, these are loaded onto cargo ships destined for Thailand from fishing trawlers.

In addition to maritime routes, the blood is also transported alongside fish and other goods.

According to a source from the fisheries institute, the government lacks the required technical knowledge to detect blood smuggling.

Sadly, the population of horseshoe crabs is decreasing rapidly, and swarms of them are no longer found in the estuary, rivers, and canals on Bangladesh’s various shorelines. Although Bangladesh hasn’t even begun extracting the blue blood yet, this species has already become endangered.

Therefore, if proper steps are not taken promptly then it is plausible that the Horseshoe crab will be extinct from the country very soon.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

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According to the stakeholders, people in Chattogram, Feni, Comilla, Brahamanbaria, Dhaka, Sylhet, Kishorganj, Sayedpur, Rangpur and Munshiganj districts are the main consumers of dry fish in the country. Khulna and Rajshahi have less consumers of dry fish.

Asadganj in Chittagong, country’s largest wholesale market. There are 50 warehouses, 250 wholesale merchants, 50 retails merchants and 10 exporters. In total, 3,000 permanent people are constantly engaged in the trade of dry fish here.

A businessman from Asadganj, Dipul Kanti said, “dry fish consumption is getting popular among locals and its even now popular in the Europe, US and across the Middle East.”

He also added, fishermen these days do not use any harmful  chemicals as preservatives because the number of cold storage have increased. So, dry fish makers are getting fresh fish for them.

The Department of Fisheries in Cox’s Bazar says it has adopted new and hygienic methods of drying and preserving fish, thereby contributing to its growing popularity in local and abroad.

Cox’s Bazar district fisheries officer said,  “If fishermen preserve dry fish by adopting the new methods and without using harmful chemicals, the taste of fish would remain intact. This is making dry fish more popular among all classes of people”.

“After removing fish intestines, fishermen are now mixing turmeric and pepper. It is very organic, hygienic and keeps the quality of dry fish unchanged. Moreover, these natural preservatives keep insects away. We keep a close eye on the whole process to ensure that no harmful chemical is added,” he said.

According to the Asadgonj Dry Fish Merchant Association (ADFMA), local production is unable to meet the growing domestic and international demand for dry fish. To fill the gap, dry fish is being imported from India, Myanmar and Pakistan. About 60% of the demand is being fulfilled from imports, while only 40% is met by local production.

There are 30 to 35 varieties of dried fish in the market. The most popular are Chinese pomfret (Rupchanda), Indian salmon (Lakkha), Ribbon fish (Chhuri), Bombay duck (Loitta) and shrimp. At the same time, to meet the local demand, Bangladesh has to import Ribbon fish, Bombay duck, Pabda, and Corica (Kachki) from India; Chinese pomfret and ribbon fish from Pakistan; and Corica and Ribbon fish from Myanmar. Of the imported dried fish, which accounts for 60% of the supplies, 70% comes from India, while 30 per cent is from Pakistan and Myanmar.

Now, the best quality dried fish are being exported to the UK, the US, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE because of its high demand among Bangladeshi expatriates in those countries. For exporting dry fish, about 100 large and small dry fish export processing units have been set up in fish-processing areas, particularly the coastal areas and islands like Rangabali, Sonadia, Kutubdia, Talpatti, St Martin’s, Teknaf, Banshkhali, Anwara, Moheshkhali and Cox’s Bazar.

$7 million worth of dry fish has been exported in the fiscal year of 2021-2022.

EPB (Export Promotion Bureau)

Businessmen, however, expressed their concern over the future prospect of the dry fish business. The county’s dry fish production is falling and fishermen are changing their profession due to the long ban on fishing imposed to help proper spawning.

“The government said this ban was for spawning. But fishermen led a miserable hand-to-mouth existence during that period,” said Jamal Hossain, a dry fish sector stakeholder.

“Pollution and climate change are contaminating the sea water. Consequently, the
production of fish is falling,” he added.

He also said that foreign vessels discharged wastes at sea within Bangladesh territory owing to lax vigilance. Moreover, fishing trawlers of neighboring countries enter Bangladesh’s territorial waters to catch fish, he noted.

“Fish production would increase if the government prevented these two things and there
would be no need to import. Moreover, we will be able to export more dry fish,” he said.

He also blamed the process of catching shrimp fries for the destruction of thousands of fish. He said that in order to collect shrimp fries, the collectors are killing million fries of different species. This practice should be banned in the coastal areas.

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