As winter settles over Narail, open fields in Shalua of Maijpara Union and Sholpur of Singasholpur Union transform into makeshift drying yards where the district’s famed dry fish season begins in earnest.

For the communities here, the annual cycle is more than a tradition — it is a vital source of income that supports hundreds of families.

Dry fish has long been considered a staple across the region, but in Narail it is an economic backbone. Fishermen, labourers, small traders, and transporters all rely on the trade, which has earned the district recognition as a notable hub for producing chemical-free dry fish.

On raised bamboo macha, fish sourced daily from canals, beels, and rivers are cleaned, salted and arranged under the open sky to dry.

The process is entirely natural, a fact that locals say has boosted demand in recent years.

Read more: Fish export to India halted thru Akhaura land port

Since this dry fish is prepared without any chemicals and in a safe environment, demand is increasing day by day, villagers said.

Among those who travel to Narail for seasonal work are Md Kabir Sheikh and Kamrul Sheikh from Muksudpur in Gopalganj. They spend the winter months drying varieties such as climbing perch (koi) and glassy perchlet (chanda), along with the widely popular chapa shutki.

No chemicals are used — only salt, they said, as rows of fish dried slowly under the sun.

While the work continues smoothly, selling remains a challenge.

Fisherman Md Mosa Mia said lower water levels during winter make it easier to catch different local species, allowing producers to buy raw fish at relatively low prices. The difficulty lies in accessing the market.

“We buy the fish and make dry fish. But without a broker, it has become difficult to sell,” he said, adding, “If we could sell directly to buyers, we would earn better profits.”

Another fisherman, Alok Biswas, described the realities of production: two to three maunds of raw fish reduce to one maund after drying.

Read more: PKSF holds policy dialogue on fisheries market

“Depending on the type, one maund of dry fish is sold for Tk 7,000 to Tk 8,000,” he said.

Official target and growing reputation

Narail District Fisheries Officer Mahbubur Rahman said a target of 80 metric tonnes of dry fish production has been set for the district this year.

“Since the dry fish here is chemical-free, it is in demand not only within the district but across the country,” he said.

The Fisheries Office has been providing training and technical support to help producers maintain quality and strengthen their position in the market.

For now, as winter sunlight glints across the bamboo platforms, families continue the work that has sustained them for generations.

The methods remain simple, the challenges persistent, but for Narail, dry fish remains a lifeline — one that keeps the district’s economy moving long after the drying season ends.

Read more: Hilsa prices soar further putting this beloved fish beyond reach