Md. Masud Khan, Munshiganj (South)

Water has already started flooding the farmlands of the char (island) areas in Gazaria upazila, a river-surrounded region in Munshiganj district. As water levels rise, boat owners in the area have begun preparing by constructing new boats and repairing old ones. Local carpenters are now spending a hectic time building boats. With rivers already brimming before the peak of the monsoon, the demand for boat carpenters has surged, and sawmill workers are also experiencing increased workloads.

Gazaria upazila is encircled by three main rivers and over nine branch rivers and canals. For the majority of people in unions such as Guagachhia, Gazaria, and Hosendi, boats are the primary mode of transportation. Although a few thousand families in some areas can walk during the dry season, during monsoon, footpaths are completely submerged. For these people, boats are a daily necessity for both life and livelihood.

In several villages of Hosendi and Guagachhia unions, each household resembles an isolated island. So, during the monsoon, boats become their only means of communication. Nearly every family owns more than one boat, which serves as their main mode of transport. Boats are essential not just for everyday travel but also for getting children to school, reaching hospitals during emergencies, and pursuing livelihoods such as fishing. As a result, the buying, selling, and repairing of boats peak in the pre-monsoon season.

Among the eight unions in the upazila, boats are commonly used in three: Guagachhia, Hosendi, and Balakandi. In particular, areas like Purana Chashi, Jamalpur, Basharchar of Guagachhia Union; Char Balaki, Bhati Balaki, Madarchar of Hosendi Union; and Abdullahpur in Balakandi Union see the highest use of boats.

A field visit revealed that boat builders are already busy along the Kazli River banks in Rasulpur, on the banks of the Falsi River in Pradhaner Char, and along the Meghna in Bhati Balaki and Bhabanipur areas, repairing old boats. Inquiries reveal that 4–5 workshops in Rasulpur Bazar, Gazaria Solali Market, and the Hosendi area are actively engaged in building boats. Old boats that are no longer usable are being dismantled for their wood, which is used to make bed frames (chowkis). These wooden chowkis are in high demand due to their durability and higher price.

Most repair work on old boats is being carried out right on the riverbanks. Boat builders can be seen fixing structural flaws, smoothing the wood, and applying a protective coat of tar. Many old boats are tied along the riverbanks, waiting for their turn to be repaired.

Momin Hossain, a worker from Bhabanipur near the Meghna, said, “This boat had a few issues for the past two years. I’m fixing them and applying tar. After two days of drying, it’ll be ready to float again.”

Talking to several locals, it became clear that boats are the lifeline of riverine areas. As the monsoon approaches, there's a boom in boat trading and repairs. Fishermen and others reliant on river travel are now passing very busy days building and repairing boats.