The Dried Fish Matters (DFM) project congratulates Samia Sobhan on the successful defence of her Master of Natural Resources Management (MNRM) thesis, Roles of Freshwater Dried Fish in Garo Diets and Identity in Bangladesh: An Exploration into the Nutritional Aspects of Selected Species.
Samia completed her research under the supervision of Dr. C. Emdad Haque, with Dr. Rotimi E. Aluko as co-supervisor. DFM Director Dr Derek Johnson was also part of Samia’s thesis committee. Samia’s research combined nutritional analysis of selected freshwater dried fish with a qualitative exploration of dried fish consumption among the Indigenous Garo community in Bangladesh. She was particularly interested in Garo dietary patterns, dietary transitions, traditional knowledge, and the perceived health benefits of dried fish.
Her nutritional analysis found that the three dried fish samples studied were rich in protein, vitamin B12, calcium, iron, and zinc, and had satisfactory amino acid and fatty acid profiles. Heavy metal concentrations were also below recommended permissible limits. At the same time, her research showed that dried fish is much more than a source of nutrition. It is an important part of Garo foodways and cultural identity. She also found that the community holds rich traditional knowledge about the health benefits of dried fish, even when this knowledge is not always explicitly identified as such.
Connecting with Dried Fish Matters
Samia’s connection with DFM grew out of her longstanding interest in dried fish research. “My first Master’s thesis had focused on the proximate analysis of dried fish, so I approached Dr. Haque with an interest in continuing research in this area. After discussions with Dr. Derek Johnson, I was introduced to the Dried Fish Matters project and gradually became involved with the wider DFM team. What began as an interest in dried fish nutrition opened the door to a much broader exploration of Indigenous foodways, traditional knowledge, dietary change, and cultural identity.”
For Samia, completing the degree was particularly significant after returning to higher education following a 13-year study gap, while balancing family responsibilities and adapting to a new cultural context. “The most rewarding part of this journey has been completing a challenging research project despite those circumstances. I am especially grateful for the warm acceptance I received from members of the Garo community and for the knowledge and experiences they shared with me.”
Other highlights included presenting her research and the DFM project at the MARE Conference 2025 and receiving the Women in Environmental Studies Award 2025. “This journey taught me that learning goes far beyond the classroom. It gave me the opportunity to learn from communities, appreciate different ways of knowing, and grow both as a researcher and as a person.”
Samia now plans to publish two additional papers developed from her thesis and hopes to continue in a research-focused profession. “In the longer term, I hope to pursue a PhD and conduct meaningful research that can contribute to positive and practical change. I see the completion of my Master’s degree not as an ending, but as the beginning of another chapter. I hope to carry the knowledge and experiences I have gained forward and use them to make a meaningful contribution through my future work.”The Dried Fish Matters team warmly congratulates Samia on this achievement and wishes her every success in the next stage of her research journey.