Home ›› 21 Sep 2021 ›› Front
Since time immemorial the business as well as economy in the subcontinent was river-centric that paved the way for establishment of a myriad of trade centres that grew along the bank of rivers.
The waterways were the prime routes that witnessed the plying of ships and big boats laden with goods engaged in export-import activities from one place to another apart from carrying passengers.
The inventions of engines and motor vehicles, no doubt, made a paradigm shift to business and economy, yet the importance of water route is second to one.
The river Buriganga on which Dhaka stands was once known to be a trade hub that still bears the testimony of lives and livelihoods of many in the bygone era and to date as well.
Of those still in reliance on the old Ganges are the boatmen who live by ferrying people from one end of the river to another, but who have found themselves in harm’s way struggling to make their ends meet.
The engine-driven boats have now stepped in waging competition with the oar boats to transport passengers, thus causing a dwindling income for the marginal sect of people who look to the river for their living.
“When I came to Dhaka in 1973, the city was totally dependent on river for operating trade and transport. The sailing boats had their heydays,” recalled Ali Akbar hailing from Madaripur.
The 73-year-old man still rows the boat to support his four-member family.
“I cannot earn as before due to my old age while people prefer to be ferried by the engine-driven boats that pollute the river by emitting oil,” said a frustrated Akbar.
“Our boat is totally environmentally friendly and we are neglected for decades. No steps have been taken to live our traditional transportation.”
Another sailor Abdur Rahim said he ended up here when he was just 17 to earn a living by ferrying people.
“My life did not go through a considerable change. I am eking out a living only and finding it hard to cope with daily expenses for my family,” described Rahim.
Taking to the boatmen, it was learnt that a lion’s share of their earnings go to lessors who take river stations on lease, and to boat fare that is rising.
According to Dhaka Boatmen Multipurpose Cooperative Association, there are a total number of 10,000 boats plying between Buriganga River near Postogola Bridge and Ashulia, Savar.
Nearly 50,000 people are engaged in the river transportation business.
“Our struggle is never ending. It goes on and on. In addition, there are no rewards in our life,” said the boatmen.
“We have to pay Tk 200 as station charge for both parts of the river and Tk 70 as boat fare for a single day while the demand of the lessees and the boat owners are increasing every year – a big obstacle to our sustained earning.”
The aggrieved sailors argued that they cannot protest against the influential lessors lest they should be barred from plying their boats across the river.
A Swarighat boatman Nazrul Islam said they can earn at best Tk 500 to Tk 700 a day, but a large amount of income is spent on station charge and boat fare.
No anchorage for boats
Since there are no anchorage, the boatmen said they face trouble to take a refuge when storm blows. Having no harbours, they ‘anchor’ their boats here and there.
A Sadarghat sailor Abdul Barek said they suffer a lot during the dry season and when storm makes landfall.
“The strong wind blows us away and we cannot sleep inside the boat which is our temporary dwelling. If the government keeps an eye on building a harbourage, it will mitigate our sufferings,” Barek pointed out.
Boatman Md Intajul Haq Mintu echoed the same as his peers.
“We have demanded for a mooring for decades, but to no avail,” he said.
Quizzed, Md Gulzar Ali, joint director of BIWTA and in-charge of Dhaka River Port, reasoned that the boats are not public property, they are personal. On the other hand, space shortage is a bar to building a harbour.
“Our task is to make sure that the boats are not overcrowded and do not cause any accident. If we find any water vehicles getting overloaded, we turn them away from terminal,” added the official.
Boatmen hostage to lessees
The boatmen vented their grievance on the lessees who they said are charging station fees at their own sweet will every year, and there is hardly any rule working on it.
A boatman Monir Hossain maintained that the high river station charge creates a big burden to maintain their livelihoods.
Dhaka Boatmen Multipurpose Cooperative Association president Md Intajul Haq Mintu said the boatmen are hostage to the lessees. He urged the government to take steps to protect the century-old tradition of river transportation.
Asked about the rising station charge, Swarighat Terminal In-charge Nazir Hossen said: “What shall we do? The government is increasing the rate of tender every year. We cannot but make the charge go higher.”
BIWTA Joint Director and In-charge of Dhaka River Port Md Gulzar Ali posited that the boatmen should come up with complaint about the rise in illegal rate.
“We received no complaint yet. The boatmen should make efforts in this regard,” he suggested.
According to Mesbah Kamal, professor of History Department at Dhaka University, “Oar boats are the parts of our history and the boatmen have a huge contribution to the historical movement of the nation.”
The boatmen are oppressed by the lessees as the society is not friendly to the poor, he said, adding that the history concerning boats should be preserved with earnestness.
