Sachchida Nanda Dey, Ashashuni (Satkhira)

As the months of Asharh and Shraban approach, the river-adjacent villages of Ashashuni upazila in Satkhira district become abuzz with a special kind of activity—boat making.

 During the monsoon season, the rivers, canals, wetlands, and fish enclosures (gher) of Ashashuni overflow with water. In many villages, floodwaters even enter household courtyards. Boats, therefore, become the most reliable means of transportation. That’s why, before the monsoon begins, local artisans start building new boats and repairing old ones.

In villages under unions like Kulia, Dargapur, Ramnagar, Khajra, and Pratapnagar, artisans are seen restoring old boats with fresh coats of paint, tar, and linseed oil. Others are cutting and assembling wood to craft medium-sized boats.

Although the use of boats has declined in modern rural life, in flood-prone areas like Ashashuni, the demand for boats during the rainy season remains significant. Boats are used for household chores, ferry crossings, and fishing in enclosures. In many riverside areas, even school-going children rely on boats to attend school.

Local residents and boatmen say that when roads are submerged during the rainy season, boats become the only viable option. Especially for those engaged in fish farming or river fishing, boats are indispensable.

Bholai Mondol, an elderly boat maker from Khoryati village, shared, “I’ve been building boats with my father since childhood. We used to use teak or gamar wood before. Now we mainly use korai, chambal, and mahogany. Just having wood isn’t enough—you need tar, linseed oil, planks, nails, wire—these materials make the boats durable.”

He further mentioned that a 12-foot-long boat takes around 15 to 20 days to build and costs about 20,000 taka in labor. However, the total cost may vary depending on the quality and availability of wood. Most boats are made to order.

According to local artisans, there is hardly any government support or training for this craft. If this seasonal profession receives planned patronage, many unemployed youths could become self-reliant by taking it up. At the same time, this traditional rural craft could be preserved.

In the riverine villages of Ashashuni, this boat-making craft, though seasonal, still breathes life every monsoon. Quietly battling nature, these artisans keep alive a heritage profession with their silent labor.