The Last Boatmen

The WASHPUR, Dhaka (Keraniganj Upazila) boatman community, we used to visit this place since 2001. At that time, there were more than 300 boatmen engaged in this profession. In 2009, after the opening of the Third Buriganga Bridge, people stopped using boats as transportation. They started using rickshaws and baby taxis for their transportation. Nowadays, only 10 to 15 boatmen are engaged in this profession in this place. They (boatmen) raised their voices to the government because they do not have another work to do.

Apart from being a private means of transport and an essential carrier for shallow or deep-water fishing, boats constitute an important economic link in the life of the people. The boat owners, operators, and builders have become an essential part of the society and economy of the country since time immemorial. Boats are also important as vehicles for sports and entertainment. The nouka-baich (BOAT RACE) is a major attraction in most parts of the country, especially during the rainy season. Boatmen have their own songs with typical lyrics and rhythm, mostly bordering on melancholy and devotional themes because of the threats posed by sudden storms and tidal surges. The life of the boatmen and their relationship with rivers and the sea naturally fascinate poets, writers, and artists.

We should keep our heritage and culture.

NOTE: I took this photo in 2009. As of today, in 2026, there are no boatmen there. This profession has almost disappeared. I asked the people there, and they said most of the boatmen and their families now run auto-rickshaws to feed their families.

Also, I used to use my photography watermark as my family name, which I no longer use on my photos.