Dublar Char — a shifting sand island on the edge of the Sundarbans — transforms every year as thousands of seasonal fishermen and devotees arrive to dry fish, celebrate the Raas festival, and make a fragile living between tides. This unique island blends a booming dried-fish economy, deep cultural traditions and urgent infrastructure needs that demand attention.

Location and a moving coastline
Dublar Char sits within the Sundarbans off Bangladesh’s southwest coast. Its shoreline and size change with monsoon currents and tidal shifts, making the island ecologically dynamic and operationally challenging for residents and visitors.

A seasonal economy built on shutki (dried fish)
From roughly November through March the island becomes one of the country’s largest dried-fish centers. Thousands of fishermen set up temporary settlements to catch, sort and sun-dry fish. The trade supplies markets across Bangladesh and supports significant seasonal income for coastal communities.

Raas (Rash) Mela: ritual, tourism and community life
Each Agrahayan full moon the Raas Mela draws pilgrims for holy baths, prayers and cultural events. The festival has also become an attraction for cultural tourists when managed responsibly, creating a brief but intense period of religious, social and commercial activity on the island.

Biodiversity, coastal life and seasonal hazards
Dublar Char’s livelihood is woven into the Sundarbans’ ecology: migratory birds, marine life and mangrove edge habitats shape local life. Yet the island is vulnerable—storms, shifting sands and limited freshwater and health access make seasonal life hazardous for families who stay for months.

Tourism potential — and limits
The island’s scenic shoreline and festival are attractive to visitors, but sustainable tourism requires careful planning: regulated boat routes, limits on visitor access in sensitive zones and basic infrastructure to avoid habitat damage and disturbance of seasonal workers.

Threats and policy priorities
Key threats include habitat pressure from unregulated activity, lack of permanent health and water infrastructure, risks to seasonal workers, and pressures from intensified fishing activity. Policy priorities should include seasonal protected zones, safer temporary camps, improved health outreach, and formal support to modernize and regulate the dried-fish value chain.

Why Dublar Char matters beyond the island
Protecting Dublar Char safeguards a seasonal economy, a centuries-old cultural festival and a living edge of the Sundarbans ecosystem. Community-led, conservation-minded planning can help balance culture, commerce and conservation—turning the island into a model for sustainable coastal livelihoods.