Low-lying Areas in Dhaka: Flood fear fuels spike in boat sales
Md Razib Hossain, a resident of Daseshkandi under Khilgaon thana, came to Kayetpara bazar in the capital yesterday to purchase a boat along with his brother.
Razib, who had never purchased a boat before, spent around Tk 6,000 to purchase one. He said he will have to spend Tk 2,000 more to make it functional.
The gravity of the flood situation in Sylhet propelled them to make this purchase, fearing that a similar situation can occur in Dhaka's low-lying areas, he said.
"Several feet of water has already accumulated in the last one week at Fakirkhali under Khilgaon thana. This is why I've decided to purchase a boat for our family to face the worst," said Md Hasan Ali, who purchased a boat for Tk 14,000.
He said 1.5 km of the main road stretching from Ederkandi to Fakirkhali went under water on Sunday and they've been solely dependent on boats for travel.
Many like them have been visiting the almost 150 years old Kayetpara boat market, located under Khilgaon thana. The area falls under Dhaka South City Corporation's ward-75.
Md Rony, a boatmaker said, "During the dry season, we would make five to seven boats in a week, but now, we're making 30 due to the demand."
He said the demand started increasing in the last three months and even more within the last week.
There are five boat makers who usually make around 20 boats every day and sell those to different areas of the country specially at the outskirts of Dhaka, said Rony.
"We're busy making boats from 6:00am to 6:00pm every day at present and can make four boats in a day," said Md Joy Miah, another boatmaker.
He said they sold around 18 boats last week.
Mohammad Anowar Hossain, another boat trader, said the boat price ranges between Tk 3,500 to Tk 15,000.
"We make a boat with Chambal tree wood, since boats made of Garjan wood is very costly. These boats last for two to three years," he said.
Abdur Rahman (75), a boat man who operates on the Norai canal from Meradia ghat to Trimohoni since 1988, said he also purchased a boat in the first week of May at a cost of Tk 20,000.
"The water on the Norai canal which joins Balu river in the down-stream is increasing. There is a chance of flood in the low-lying areas if the water level increases," he said.
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