Here, a woman rows the boat

Akhlima Begum's day starts at the break of dawn. Upon completing her household chores, she readies her small boat, which ferries passengers to and from Patuakhali's Doani village of Galachipa upazila and Meermadan village of Dasmina upazila throughout the day.

This has been her only source of income for the last two decades.

By ferrying passengers, she provided for her three girls, married them off to respectable families and established a good rapport in her village over time.

However, Akhlima is over fifty years old now. Her body does not function like it used to twenty years ago.

Even then, she has no alternative but to continue the tiring job all day even with her ageing body, as she's sceptical that her savings cannot sustain her for long if she retires.

Currently, she is contemplating opening a grocery store or starting a poultry farm to move forward from her life on a boat.

A few years ago, my youngest daughter's husband abandoned her and their child. Now I take care of them as well. So my savings will not sustain us for long if I retire now without any alternative plan.

— Akhlima

Akhlima's life turned upside down when her husband Phul Khan, the only earning member of their family, passed away 21 years ago, leaving three little girls and Akhlima behind.

She started working as a house help to provide for her girls. She even worked as a day labourer.

A year passed away like this.

Sutabaria river flows without any hindrance by her home in Doani village. On the east bank of the river stands Meermadan village. The Rauna Kheyaghat (boat terminal) is the only way for the people of Doani to reach the east bank via boat. One Elem Gazi used to ferry passengers between the villages.

However, after his passing, the men of Doania refused to take up the task, as the difficult job does not even pay well.

That is when Akhlima decided to take up the mantle from the late Elem Gazi. The same men who refused to take the job in the first place were strictly opposed to the idea. But Akhlima took the responsibility anyway and succeeded in making a living.

After a year, her brother Abdul Mannan Mridha brought her a new boat. The boat has stayed with her ever since, for the last 20 years.

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw Akhlima ferrying passengers of all backgrounds -- students, day labourers, patients and elderlies.

She received this correspondent with a wide smile when he hopped in and joined the journey.

"I collect Tk five from each passenger per trip. I earn Tk 200-300 per day," she said.

"However, I'm always sympathetic to the cause of schoolgoers and the impoverished," she added.

This warm nature of Akhlima made her a popular figure in the village.

"She is always kind to her passengers, especially the kids. People of our village sing praises of her bravery and kind heart," said Abdul Latif, a local.

However, Akhlima believes her days on the boat are numbered.

"I have grown physically weak. It would have been great if I got an investor for setting up a shop or starting poultry farming," she said.

"A few years ago, my youngest daughter's husband abandoned her and their child. Now I take care of them as well. So my savings will not sustain us for long if I retire now without any alternative plan," she added, in a rather sad tone, with her smile beginning to fade.