Dried Fish Village – South Bay, Bangladesh

As soon as I stepped into the dried fish village, I was shocked by the overpowering smell. I held my breath, struggling to adjust to the stench. Rows of fish stretched as far as the eye could see.

Workers moved through the maze of racks, their hands and clothes stained with the brine of their labour. For them, the smell was not an issue but part of their daily grind—the smell of survival. Children played nearby, unaffected by the intense aroma that made me gasp for breath.

The longer I stayed at the dried fish village, the more my senses became acclimatised and the more I began to notice the rhythm of life here.

Each dried fish told a story of perseverance and tradition, a livelihood built on turning the sea’s resources into food for many. Despite the initial discomfort, I left with a deep respect for the resilience of those who thrive amidst the salty, sunbaked winds of this unique world.