by Naim-Ul-Karim
DHAKA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- In Southeastern Asian food culture and in particularly in China eels are extremely popular and can be prepared in a myriad of different ways to excite the taste buds of even the most seasoned of foodies.
Food lovers in Southeast Asia also have a special love of crab that are also prepared in a variety of different and exciting ways, with deep fried crab-on-sticks being a very popular snack. In some regions the delicious crustacean can even be purchased from vending machines.
But not everybody knows the origin of these seafood delights and might be surprised to hear that in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, Sirajul Islam and his workers process crab and eels to export them to parts of China and other countries.
Islam, like many Dhaka-based exporters, collect crab and eels from mainly coastal areas in Bangladesh.
Exporters say that Bangladesh eels are fatter and heavier than those of other nations and hence they are in great demand.
They say the weather, soil and water quality of Bangladesh is particularly favorable for eel cultivation.
Before the sun rises Islam, like many Dhaka-based exporters and their thousands of workers, start the process of sorting and packing eels and crab into hundreds of baskets in a market in Dhaka's Uttara area.
They finish their entire task manually by 12:30 p.m (local time) every day and then send the live crab and eels to different Chinese and Southeastern Asian destinations by air.
Sirajul Islam, proprietor of SR Traders, said there is a huge demand for Bangladeshi eels, especially in China.
"Since 2002 I have been involved in this business. Basically I export eels and crab to China. I collect the products to be sent overseas from Chittagong, Khulna, Satkhina, Noakhali and Barisal (southern and Southeastern Bangladesh districts)," he told Xinhua.
He said China stands out out as a prime destination for Bangladeshi eel and crab exporters, but added that Malaysia and other countries have sizable markets too for Bangladeshi's sea-based delicacies.
"Chinese businessmen are very happy as our products are extremely good. For our products they are even ready to pay more than 1.46 U.S. dollars per piece.
Another trader, Nafisa, a young female entrepreneur, says she has just completed a full year doing this business.
She also sends eels and crab to different Chinese cities and towns from Bangladesh.
Nafisa said when her friends come from China, they are delighted to eat dishes made with crab and eels and are usually keen to visit Dhaka's biggest eel and crab market.
"They are very happy and so we are very proud," Nafisa told Xinhua at the market recently, adding that her non-Bangladeshi friends and business partners often purchase fresh seafood there too.
Latif is a veteran of this trade and has been working in the processing center for around 10 years.
"I am from Satkhira," Latif told Xinhua, and for 10 years I have been working for SR Traders. We process up to 150 baskets full of crabs daily. We also process 200-300 baskets of crabs to be exported."
Following the export potential of the sector and the huge employment to locals it provides, the Bangladeshi government has already launched a 360 million taka project (about 4.5 million U.S. dollars), under which experimental farming of eels and crab is being undertaken in numerous districts in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is now reportedly earning ten million U.S. dollars a year from its exports of eels and crab.
Apart from China, Bangladesh also exports to South Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.
