By Rostam Ali Mandal
Dinajpur, August 12, 2025: Fishermen of the district are changing their fortunes by cultivating indigenous Tengra fish using modern technology. Inspired by the success of Md. Monir Hossain (30), a successful entrepreneur in producing indigenous Tengra fry, many fish farmers of the district are now investing in indigenous Tengra farming.
It is known that fish farmers from near and far are cultivating delicious and nutritious Tengra fish from Monir's Tengra fish fry. His success in producing domestic Tengra fish fry is now serving as an inspiration to many fish farmers.
Tengra fish, which is delicious and nutritious, is a favorite fish for many people because it has fewer spines. That is why the price of this fish in the market is a little high. The indigenous Tengra fish, which has disappeared from water bodies and rivers for various reasons, is now being cultivated in ponds. And the fry of this Tengra fish are being produced in a pond in Indrapur village of Mominpur union of Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur.
A successful entrepreneur in Tengra farming, Md. Monir Hossain, told BSS that he started producing domestic Tengra fish fry in June last year after leasing 50 percent of the land from his neighbor Moktar Ali for Tk 25,000. He has earned about Tk 200,000 through the sale of Tengra fish fry using modern technology in the last 6 months.
Monir Hossain (30) is the son of Nurul Haque of Indrapur village of Mominpur union of Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur district. They have a happy family of 6 members including father, mother, brother, sister, wife and son. Due to family ties, he had to take care of his father's agricultural work. Although Monir Hossain could not study further, he used to earn a living by working in agriculture.
Monir Hossain said that in 2021, he underwent training on fish farming at the Dinajpur Youth Development Training Center for 6 months. After receiving the training, he realized the potential for profit by starting fish farming in a small reservoir. This greatly increased his interest in fish farming and he started fish farming along with agricultural work. After that, Monir Hossain achieved incredible success in producing domestic Tengra fish fry.
He said that he spent a total of 165,000 taka on producing tengra fry in a pond on 50 acres of land. He sold fish for 370,000 taka in a year. He has leased another 2 acres of pond this year. Currently, 4 people have permanent employment in his farm. 7 people are working temporarily. In addition to producing fish fry, he has planted fruit trees and vegetables around the pond.
Monir Hossain's fish farm has now become an ideal farm for the people of the district. Fish sellers and farmers from near and far buy Tengra fish fry from him. They are also cultivating delicious and nutritious Tengra fish instead of other fish. His success in producing this indigenous Tengra fish fry is now inspiring many to start fish farming.
Riazul Islam, a fish farmer who came to collect the Tengra fish fry produced by young Munir, told BSS that he used to farm other fish. Now he is farming indigenous Tengra fish. The profit in farming Tengra fish is much higher than other fish.
Fish fry seller Azgar Ali said, "I bring Tengra fish fry in pots from Munir's pond 3/4 days a week and sell them outside. There is a high demand for this Tengra fish fry. Many people order the fry in advance. I make good profits by selling Tengra fish fry. That is why I sell the fry."
Dinajpur District Fisheries Research Officer of the non-governmental aid organization Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Md. Raihanul Islam said that along with the government fisheries department, their office has been supporting young entrepreneur Monir Hossain in producing local tengra fish fry from the very beginning.
He said that the non-governmental organization 'Gram Bikash Kendra' Shuchana Mahila Samity is assisting Monir Hossain through technical assistance and technology expansion at the Bhaber Bazar branch of Chirirbandar Upazila of the district. Through this, Monir is able to produce Tengra fish fry and spread it everywhere.
Md. Zahidul Islam, Fisheries Officer of Gram Bikash Kendra, said, 'Since Tengra fish is very tasty and nutritious, its price in the market is higher than other fish. If this fish can be cultivated, comparatively more profit can be earned. As a result, indigenous Tengra fish is playing a very helpful role in increasing the income of pond owners. Educated unemployed youth are able to overcome unemployment by producing Tengra fish fry and cultivating fish using modern methods. Gram Bikash Kendra has been supporting Monir Hossain in producing Tengra fish fry since the beginning.'
Dinajpur District Fisheries Officer Purabi Rani Roy said, "The entrepreneurial young man Monir Hossain is our creation. We are encouraging unemployed youth to farm fish instead of chasing jobs and by training them, we are encouraging them to farm fish. By cultivating Tengra in ponds, it is possible to meet the nutritional needs of the rural population as well as improve their socio-economic conditions. If Tengra fish can be properly cared for, the amount of fish supply from each area will meet a large part of the demand for local fish."
He said, "Not only can we become self-reliant by cultivating Tengra, but there is also immense potential to strengthen the country's economy and turn it into a profitable sector. Along with the government, private institutions including PKSF are providing technical and technological support for the production of domestic Tengra fry."
The fisheries official said that entrepreneur Monir Hossain's production of local Tengra fish fry has created new employment opportunities for many. This initiative will not only meet the meat and nutritional needs of the district, but will also contribute to the national economy through fish production.
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