The Tk 210 million fish landing center in Bhairab, Kishoreganj, has remained unused for nearly three years since its inauguration, turning into a gathering spot for thieves, gamblers, and drug addicts. Despite having staff on paper, the facility is largely unattended.
Constructed under the supervision of the Department of Fisheries and the Fish Development Corporation at a cost of Tk 207.94 million, the four-story facility was designed with modern amenities including an auction shed, packing shed, 35 wholesale stalls, an ice plant, solar panels, quality control lab, deep tube well, ice crusher, and generator. Built on 27 decimals of land at the old Meghna ferry terminal, construction began in 2018 and was inaugurated on October 13, 2021.
However, no fish traders have moved in, causing the government to lose potential revenue. Traders argue that the government’s conditions—requiring a Tk 200,000 advance payment, Tk 2,000 monthly rent, and a 1.5 percent commission on sales—would make their businesses financially unsustainable. They also cite insufficient space for storing or processing fish, along with a decline in freshwater fish supply to the area.
Currently, around 150 traders operate from the old night fish market in Bhairab, where they have ample storage and processing facilities, including ice plants. Many have been running their businesses rent-free for decades on their own land and some even export fish.
Former general secretary of the Bhairab Fish Traders’ Cooperative, Mobarak Hossain, said the government’s conditions are impractical given the reduced fish supply and the competitive advantage of existing private facilities.
When contacted, the facility’s listed manager said he was no longer in charge and had been transferred, with no replacement appointed. Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Joy Bonik stated that the center was built to relocate the local fish market into a modern, hygienic environment, but the space available could only accommodate about 35 wholesale stalls—far fewer than the 150 currently operating in Bhairab. Despite multiple meetings between local administration and traders over the past year, no agreement has been reached. The center remains under the management of the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation, which will decide its future use.
