Tongi Fish Market Cutters Earn Livelihood Amid Daily Hardship

Around 50 working people earn their livelihoods by cutting fish at the Shafuddin Sarkar Market, located in the Cheragali area of Tongi within the Gazipur metropolitan city. These laborers provide an essential service to shoppers who prefer to have their aquatic purchases prepared before returning to their residences.

To operate at the designated location within the marketplace, these workers must pay a daily fee of 160 taka directly to the market authority. Despite this mandatory operational expense, the workers continue to maintain their daily routine at the market stalls to support themselves and their families.

The wage structure for their labor varies depending on the size of the fish. Workers charge a wage of 20 taka per kilogram for cutting large fish, while the rate for smaller fish ranges between 50 and 100 taka per kilogram based on the specific type and effort required.

Through this manual labor, the workers secure varying amounts of income throughout the week. On regular weekdays, an individual worker typically earns between 1,000 and 1,200 taka, while earnings on Fridays and Saturdays increase to reach approximately 2,000 taka.

Customers often utilize this service to save time and effort. Mohammad Asaduzzaman, a market shopper, explained the reasoning behind using the service by stating that bulk monthly market purchases often result in a higher quantity of fish, and having them cut at the market helps avoid the trouble of doing it at home.

Among the laborers is 65-year-old Abdur Rashid, who reflected on the dignity of his labor and his daily routine. Expressing contentment with his honest toil, Abdur Rashid stated that there is nothing more peaceful than halal earnings, adding that he cuts fish for half the day and engages in other work during the other half to run his family.