How fishermen of Dublar Char vote during dried fish season

BAGHERHAT, Jan 06 (UNB): The election wind has touched the Dublar Char, popularly known as "Shutki Polli" or Dried Fish Village, near the Sundarban in full swing as the 12th parliamentary election will be held on Sunday
Thousands of fishermen have been leaving for home to join the voting festivities as they want to elect their favorite candidate by voting. A number of fishermen were seen on Saturday leaving for the coast with their boats with high enthusiasm. After voting on Sunday, they will leave for Dublar Char again on Monday with boats.
According to the Forest Department, more than 9,000 fishermen who came to Dublar Char during the dried fish processing season have returned home to vote.
Dublar Char consists of Alorkol, Middle Fort, Coconut Baria and Shalar Char. Every year, several thousand fishermen and hired hands flock to the area to catch fish and make shutki (dried fish).
The Forest Department also said that this year, the authorities concerned have given permission to erect 108 makeshift houses and 78 depots for accommodation of fishermen and preservation of dried fish.
Fishermen usually return home at the end of the season. But this time the fishermen are returning to their respective homes to cast their votes in the parliamentary elections.
The fishermen hail from Sharankhola, Rampal, Morrelganj, Mongla, Khulna Sadar, Koyra, Dakop, Batiaghata, Satkhira Sadar, Ashusuni and other upazilas of Bagerhat district.
Several fishermen from Rampal and Mongla areas of Bagerhat district, Dakop of Khulna district and Satkhira said that they want to elect their preferred candidates in the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections.
The fishermen expect that whoever they vote for will be elected and speak for them in parliament. The elected representatives will work to improve the fate of the common people.
Fishermen hope the next government will keep the prices of essential commodities including rice, pulses and oil within the purchasing capacity of the common people.
Forester Md Khalilur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Dublar Char fishermen's patrol outpost, said more than 10,000 fishermen come to Dublar Char during the 'Shutki' season. After the allocation of symbols to the candidates in the election, many of the fishermen living there campaigned for their preferred candidate. Some even hung posters of the candidate in Dublar Char.
Md Khalilur Rahman said there are now about 1,000 fishermen in Dublar Char. The fishermen who went to vote will return to Dublar Char on Monday.
Kamal Uddin Ahmed, chairman of Dubla Fisherman Group, said fishermen were huge enthusiastic about the 12th parliamentary election this year. Ninety per cent of the fishermen return home with their boats to vote.
According to the Sundarban Forest Department, the 'Shutki' season started in November and will continue till March.