Three fish processing factories were fined Tk 15,000 each last week on charge of fraudulence.

The three factories exported processed shrimps containing bacterial germs, according to a report of the Ministry of Fisheries.

The penalised shrimp processing units are Chabi Fish processing, Bagerhat Sea Foods and The National Sea Foods.

Last year a buyer from France complained in writing to EU authorities in Dhaka against the processing factories.

A three-member probe body was formed with Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries Hemayetuddin as its convener.

Two other members of the probe body are senior Asst Secretary M A

Sobhan and Public Relations Officer Aminul Islam of the same ministry.

By testing samples at the ICDDR,B laboratory at Mahakhali it was found that the cartons of exported processed frozen shrimps contained cholera germs and other unhygienic objects.

The probe body fined each unit Tk 15,000 as punishment for violating Fish Quality Control Act, 1997.

Meanwhile, shrimp trade in Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts may suffer a serious setback due to acute crisis of fry. The growers are being charged high price by hatcheries, it is alleged.

Shrimp cultivators of these three districts are being compelled to pay Tk 3.50 per piece of fry which was sold two months back at the rate of Tk 1.50.

According (o Shrimp Hatcheries Association Bangladesh (SI 1AB). the minimum demand for shrimp Irv is 300 crore. We won't be able to produce more (han 200 crore fries, said a spokesman of the SI l \B s Khulna Regional Office.

Rationing system has been introduced only for some se lected agents, the spokesman said

SHAB is supplying fries through (heir agents. The agents are delivering (hose at the factory gate, it is learnt.

Mortality rale ol fry has also increased due to delay in transportation from ( ox's Bazar io shrimp farms in Khulna region, causing financial loss to the farms

A local agent of SHAB complained against some of its leaders lor cheating the government through different tactics and fraudulent means.

SI I AB is not utilising I k 50 crore loan given for increasing production of belter quality of fry, some local agents alleged.