A rare 32kg black poa has once again landed in the net of St Martin’s fisherman Abdul Gani, renewing excitement on the island over the man widely known as “Poa Gani.”
Gani caught the fish on Saturday morning while fishing off the Teknaf coast. He said he felt an unusual heaviness in his net before pulling up the large black poa, scientifically known as Protonibea diacanthus.
The fish has not yet been sold, with bargaining underway among local wholesalers. The expected price ranges between Tk 4 lakh and Tk 5 lakh. News of the catch spread quickly, drawing crowds of locals, tourists and fish traders to the beach.
Abdul Gani, son of the late Sultan Ahmed from West Para of St Martin Union, has caught several large black poa over the years, earning him the nickname “Poa Gani.”
“These kinds of fish are what keep me in this profession,” he said. “My family is doing well now.”
Teknaf Upazila Fisheries Officer Md Delwar Hossain said the “padna” or “phula” found inside the fish is extremely valuable abroad and used in specialised medicines, making the black poa far more expensive than regular fish.
Large black poa have brought Gani considerable fortune in previous years. In November 2018, a 34kg fish he caught sold for Tk 10 lakh, marking his first major breakthrough. In 2020, multiple poa sold for Tk 6 lakh, followed by two 60kg catches in 2022 that were sold for Tk 8 lakh and created nationwide buzz.
His latest 32kg catch on 22 November 2025 has once again made him the focus of local attention, with residents and traders now waiting to see the final selling price.
Locals say Gani’s string of high-value catches has transformed his life, enabling him to buy his own trawler, boat and nets. “St Martin’s big poa fish means Poa Gani,” they said.
