A seller attempting to keep a live katla fish after purchase from the wholesale market.
A seller attempting to keep a live katla fish after purchase from the wholesale market.

Live fish market on the banks of Karatoa River

At the break of dawn, the riverside comes alive with activity. The air is filled with the shouts of buyers and sellers as the market bustles into life. This is the early morning live fish market on the banks of the Karatoa River in Bogura town, known locally as the Chashi Bazar. Adjacent to it is a wholesale fish trading centre. The market begins at dawn and concludes by mid-morning. During this time, fish worth several crores of taka are traded both at the wholesale market and in the open riverside stalls.

The most distinctive feature of this market is that most of the fish brought for sale are kept alive. The following photographs capture the vibrant scenes of this riverside fish market on the banks of the Karatoa River.

A seller attempting to keep a live katla fish after purchase from the wholesale market.
A bowl full of live fish
The riverside fish market along the Karatoa River bustling with buyers and sellers.
A bowl full of live rui fish.
Negotiations in progress over fish prices.
A seller displaying hilsa fish to attract customers.
Bowls filled with live farmed fish.
Higher demand observed for fish caught from the river.
River fish arranged neatly for sale.
Fish cutters seated in a row, ready for service.