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KHULNA, Feb 12: The shrimp processing units of Satkhira are on the verge of closure one after another due to crises of raw materials and funds, sources said.
Seven out of eight processing units have already been closed while 16 ice factories also followed the suit, they further said.
Most of the shrimp traders also closed their shrimp depots in the area, known as a famous shrimp producing area of the southern districts.
The owners of the concerned organisations claimed that they were compelled to close the units due to crises of raw materials and funds.
But the bank officials of the area said that there was a lack of transparency in business of the closed units.
Unplanned establishment of units, management crisis and natural calamities also were blamed for the units' closure.
The closed shrimp units are Karamendal Fish Freezing, A Fish Limited, Satkhira Fish, Meghna Fish, Sundarban Fish and Penguin Fish.
On the other hand, the production of shrimp in the area was also hit by a virus attack during the last 3/4 years. As a result 16 ice factories were closed in absence of sufficient shrimp production.
The District Fisheries Department sources said about 270,000 hectares of lands of 10,213 shrimp enclosures were brought under saline water shrimp cultivation and over 5000 hectares of lands of 855 enclosures under sweet water shrimp cultivation in seven upazillas of Satkhira district. About 500,000 people of the district are directly involved with the shrimp industry.
An owner of a processing unit told this correspondent that there were many reasons for closure of the units. One of the reason is the shortfall in the production in the area due to severe virus attacks for last few years. So the processing units faced crises of raw materials, running capitals as well as an unequal competition in their business which hampered the timely shipment of frozen foods.
When contacted, Sonali Bank and Janata Bank officials said most of the processing units of the district were closed due to the lack of transparency in their trade.
Sources said an American importer demanded a huge amount of compensation from the Karamendal Fish Processing. Besides, Sonali Bank filed a suit against the unit for realising Tk 150 million (15 crore).
On the other hand, Janata Bank filed a case against the Meghna Fish Limited for realising Tk 100 million and Agrani Bank took Penguin Fish to court for Tk 130 million.
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