Fish farming has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors in Rajshahi division, with annual production reaching nearly 596,467 metric tonnes and daily fish trade exceeding Tk 20 crore.
The cultivation of carp and rui fish has expanded significantly across the division’s eight districts, creating new opportunities for thousands of farmers. With production surpassing local demand, fresh fish from Rajshahi is now supplied daily to Dhaka and at least 25 other districts across the country.
According to the Rajshahi Divisional Office of the Department of Fisheries, the division currently has 449,653 ponds and 165,706 fish farmers. Around 150,000 metric tonnes of fish are sent outside the region every year after meeting local demand.
The sector has also generated employment for nearly 300,000 people and contributed to fish exports.
Officials said commercial fish transportation from Rajshahi began around 24 years ago. Today, more than 500 trucks carrying fresh fish leave the region every day, with each truck transporting around 700–800 kilograms of fish.
Many farmers have turned to aquaculture after facing challenges in crop farming. They say fish farming provides higher returns compared to many traditional agricultural activities.
Golam Saqlain of Durgapur upazila started fish farming in 1994 with a two-bigha pond and Tk 7,000 investment while studying chemistry at Rajshahi University. After earning profit from his first harvest, he expanded his business and now manages about 1,000 bighas of leased ponds, employing 152 people.
“Fish farming became my profession alongside agriculture. Today, around 20 trucks of fish are sent to Dhaka every day from my farms,” Saqlain said.
Natore and Naogaon districts have become major producers of freshwater fish, including rui, katla, mrigel, silver carp, pabda, tangra and shing. Farmers are using modern preservation and oxygen systems to transport live fish to distant markets.
However, rising feed prices and production costs remain a concern for farmers. Fish farmer Idris Ali of Durgapur said prices have not increased in line with rising expenses, affecting profitability.
Paba upazila has also developed into a major fish supply hub. Around 50 trucks of fish leave Parila village every day for Dhaka and other districts, while more than 200 trucks depart from across Rajshahi district.
Fish farmer Mosharraf Hossain said improved transport facilities have helped farmers receive better prices. Recently, he sent 1,200 kilograms of fish to Dhaka’s New Market, where the consignment was sold for Tk 300,000.
Saifuddin Yahia, director of the Rajshahi Divisional Fisheries Department, said fish farming in the region has shifted towards scientific methods. Farmers are now combining rui cultivation with other species such as silver carp, katla and local fish varieties to improve production.
He said species like pabda, shing, koi and magur have gained strong demand outside Rajshahi, while pabda fish is also exported to India.
The Fisheries Department trains more than 1,500 people every year in modern fish farming techniques and continues to organise farmer exhibitions and awareness programmes to expand the sector.