“Mache Bhate Bangali”, which means, “fish and rice are what makes a Bengali”, is a proverb that represents the Bengali food culture for thousands of years & more. It is not just a figure of speech, there is much truth behind it. The saying evolved because Bangladesh is crisscrossed by numerous rivers, which provides a massive fish supply for the people of the land.
The climate of Bangladesh is unique for aquaculture and fisheries resources management. Frozen foods are the second-largest export sector of the economy. The massive natural resources available in Bangladesh make this sector particularly promising for investors looking to supply in international as well as in domestic markets. Bangladesh Exports: USD: Quarterly: Frozen Shrimps & Fish data was reported at 104.000 USD mn in Jun 2021. Although the Government of Bangladesh has continued its support towards the sector by maintaining a 10% cash incentive on fish export, the sector is yet to realize its full potential. Recently this sector has got a major boost as Bangladesh has got rid of a mandatory EU screening for exporting frozen fish after the country made progress in its residue monitoring system. Earlier the European Union used to test 20 percent of frozen fish consignments from Bangladesh to keep its exporters under continuous pressure to improve compliance.
SEAWATER FROZEN FISH
Seawater fish of Bangladesh are caught from the Bay of Bengal Sea. The Bay of Bengal is a good source of different kinds of fish. There are many species of tasty fish are caught from the Bay of Bengal. Such as
- Pomfrets
- Indian Salmon
- Seabass
- Red snapper
- Eel fish
- Ribbonfish
- Bombay-duck
- Jewfish
- Spanish Mackerel
- Lizardfish
- Mullets
- Tongue sole
- Catfish
- Cuttlefish
- Blacktip shark etc.
FRESHWATER FROZEN FISH
Bangladesh is a land of rivers and canals. There are many delicious freshwater fishes grow in Bangladesh such as
- Rohu
- Catla
- Mrigal
- Hilsha
- Clown Knife fish (Chital)
- Common Carp
- Silver Carp
- Yellowtail Catfish (Pangasius pangasius)
- Giant River Catfish (Iyer)
- Tilapia
- Snakehead Murrel (Shol)
- Walking Catfish (Koye)
- Magur Catfish
- Stinging Catfish (Shing)
- Olive Barb (Sarputhi)
- Minor carp (Batta)
- Pabdah Catfish (Pabda)
- Annandale loach (Bathrangi)
- JamunaAilia (Kajuly)
- Day’s mystus (Tangra)
- Indian River Shad (Chapila)
- Mola Carplet (Mola)
- Puntio Barb (Puty).