A pangas weighing 15 kilograms has been caught in a fisherman's net in the Bay of Bengal off Kuakata in Patuakhali. When the fish was brought to port, many people crowded round to see it.

It was auctioned for Tk 18,000 at the Alipur fish wholesale market on the morning of Tuesday, 2 September, a price of Tk 1,200 a kg. It was bought by fish trader Salauddin, owner of Mridha Fish.

Earlier, on Sunday, 31 August, another large pangas was caught in a fisherman's net while hilsa and other fish were being caught in the Bay of Bengal. The unexpected catch delighted the fishermen.

Local trader Salauddin said: "The fish was caught in a hilsa net. I bought it for Tk 18,000. I will sell it as soon as I get a small profit."

According to local fishermen, pangas from the sea or rivers has soft flesh and a unique taste, so it fetches several times the price. When such a fish is caught, the fishing village takes on a festive mood.

Apu Saha, senior fisheries officer of Kalapara upazila, said: "This is good news for fishermen. It can be called the benefit of observing the government's ban on sea fishing. If fishermen follow the rules, big fish will be caught in future too. With favourable weather, fishermen are expected to catch a good amount of fish now."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.