Poisonous puffer fish being sold in Cox's Bazar

COX'S BAZAR, Nov 06: Some unscrupulous traders are selling poisonous puffer fish, widely known as 'patka fish', in Cox's Bazar's fish landing centre, claiming it to be of high medicinal property.

This correspondent during a recent visit found them selling the item there openly, which poses a serious threat to human health.

In addition to hilsa, various types of fish including puffer fish are also being netted every day in the Bay.

Though a ban is already in force on sale of puffer fish in many parts of the country, traders are selling the same to make extra income at the cost of human life.

Fahad Hossain, a fish trader at the fish landing centre, said puffer fish which is sold at Tk50 per kg is sent to different districts including Chattogram and Dhaka.

"Puffer fish can be eaten, but people die if they consume its eggs. It contains medicinal properties," he continued with an air of belief.

Asked about sale of the fish, Cox's Bazar Fish Landing Centre Manager Md Badruddouja said the fish has not come to my notice yet. If I witness it, I will take immediate action against the sellers."

Cox's Bazar District Fisheries Officer Md Badruzzaman said in some places of the southern districts of the country, puffer fish is cooked and eaten in a special way; but the fish is poisonous.

He also said there are three species of puffer fish available in Bangladesh.

The fish which is about 12 cm long has a broad head and back and a narrow tail. Its back is olive and the sides and belly are white.

This fish can assume different shapes in the water. Though poisonous, it can attract notice of many.

Badruzzaman, however, said many people died after eating this fish in the area.

The puffer fish has four scientific names such as Tetrodon patoka, Chelonodon patoka, Tetrodon disutidens and Tetrodon kappa.

According to the experts, poison in puffer fish does not affect everyone equally. Some may have high immunity and some may have low; but poisoning can begin within 20 minutes to three hours after eating the fish.

It is learnt, a section of traders in Cox's Bazar has been collecting the fish for a long time.

In Chittagong and Dhaka, they have middlemen who have been supplying the fish from the fish landing centre since 2012.

The puffer fish does not come to anybody's notice as it is not treated as fish.

And taking this opportunity, the traders are sending it to different parts of the country from here.

Fish trader Mohammad Yasin said puffer fish is considered very effective for its medicinal value. That is why a section of traders sell them at a high price instead of releasing them when they are caught in their nets.

According to fisheries experts, at least 30 people could be killed by eating a poisonous puffer fish. Every year people die from eating this fish, but there has not been much research on it in Bangladesh. If research is done, the sale of this fish could be stopped.

Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Zakaria said, "We don't have any information about puffer fish being sold. Legal action will be taken if this poisonous fish is sold in the markets."

UNB adds: The fishing community of Cox's Bazar is very happy with abundant catch of Hilsa. Fishing trawlers are returning to the shore full of Hilsa and other fish, bringing down the prices to a tolerable level.

Once deserted fish warehouses and markets of the district are now buzzing with fishermen, traders and buyers from morning to night.

Visiting Cox's Bazar Fisheries Landing Station, the news agency correspondent found the place in a festive mood. After the onslaught of Cyclone Sitrang and a 22-day ban on Hilsa catching, hundreds of fishing trawlers are arriving at the station with tons of Hilsa every day.