Bangladesh, Aug. 12 -- At least 200 hilsa trawlers are trapped in Patuakhali due to a shortage of ice due to power outages.This is peak time of year for hilsa.

Some 200 fishing trawlers are sitting idle at the Mahipur and Alipur fish landing centers in Patuakhali during the peak of the hilsa season due to a severe ice scarcity brought on by extended load shedding.

The production of local ice factories has decreased due to frequent power outages, leaving supplies well below demand. Many trawlers have been unable to head out to sea for the past week as fishermen need sufficient ice to preserve their catch during fishing trips.

There are twenty ice factories that supply the two landing centres.

"Load shedding was happening ten or twelve ...