Boat makers passing busy time in Natore

The boat makers in Natore are passing busy time as demands for boats rise with the onset of the monsoon.

During the monsoon, water increases in Chalan Beel of Natore, submerging many areas of Gurudaspur, Singra and Naldanga upazilas.

Water also rises in Halti Beel, Padma Beel, rivers and other similar water bodies in the region. This raises the demand for boats as an important mode of transportation.

Travelling and transporting goods via waterway has increased in the area.

Boat manufacturers are currently passing busy times trying to keep up with the demand as sales of boats have gone up. Along with building new boats, repair of old boats is also in progress all day and night.

On spot investigation of Gurudaspur, Singra and Naldanga upazilas of the district showed that besides making small boats locally known as dinghies, the craftsmen are also busy repairing old boats.

The boat craftsmen of Banshbhag, Madhanagar and Jhumpaduar villages of Naldanga upazila said water has risen in the local rivers due to the rains of the last few days.

In addition to fishing in the Baronoi River and Halti Beel, boats are used to travel from one village to another. With the additional water in the river demands for boats have risen, and there is a rush in the surrounding areas for crafting and repairing boats.

According to the local fishermen, besides repairing old boats and building new ones, they are also busy making nets and other fishing instruments. They will start catching and selling fish once their work is done.

Mansur Rahman, a fisherman from Bakshore-Jamtoil village in Naldanga upazila, said he has started making boats as the water level in the local beels is rising. He is also making new fishing instruments and repairing the old ones.

He will fish in the local beel after the completion of his endeavour like in previous years. He also transports people and goods from one end of the beel to the other.

Asadul and Salam Hossain, boat craftsmen from Banshbhag village in Naldanga upazila, said fishermen are now busy making various sizes and types of boats. The boats sell for Tk 7,000-75,000 depending on their size and type.

Boat craftsman Muntu Sannasi of Jhumpaduar village said, “Along with the increase in the wages of the workers, the prices of daily necessities have also gone up. We are facing problems making a living and supporting our families.”

Muntu Sannasi further said that he is making and selling boats worth Tk 10,000-30,000.

About the material for building boats, traders Samsul Islam and Abdul Majid of Madhanagar Bazar said “Previously, boats were made of good quality wood. Now we mostly use Kadai and acacia wood.”

In addition to wood, kerosene, tar, thorns, and spikes are used in boat crafting to keep the boat durable for a long time.

The boat traders added that they make a profit of Tk 1,500-5,000 per boat.

Naldanga UNO Sukhmoy Sarker said boat is a vital means of transportation and communication in the area. It is used for many purposes including carrying goods, catching fish, transporting people to other parts of Bangladesh.

“If the boat makers need help, we will help them,” he added.