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Noukar haat remains lively as boat is their lifeline

SUSHANTO GHOSH, Barisai
The weekly noukar haat (boat market) at Kuriana in Swarupkathi upazila under Pirojpur district now sees lively presence of sellers and buyers every Friday as the traditional country boats, serving as convenient transport in riverine southern region, are on good sale during the ongoing rainy season.
Carpenters of Muktahar, Chami, Boldia, Inderhaat, Boitha Kata, Dubi, Kathali villages of the area build mainly panis (or pinis), dingi and naak golui types of boats and bring to the weekly market stretching about two kilometres.
Commonly used timbers for building boats are from locally available koroi, rain tree, jarul, shal, sundari, mahogany and teak trees.
The timber is seasoned and tar or tannin of mangosteen is applied for
making the boats water resistant.
Boat making is a traditional family business for many people in the area and the skill is learnt through apprenticeship with father, brother or any elder relative.
Assisted by a helper, a carpenter can build a boat within four days after purchasing sized woods from local saw-mills, said Swapan Sadhu, a boat maker of Muktahar.
Depending on design, size, finishing, coating, and construction materials, manufacturing of a boat usually costs Tk 1200-4000 and is sold for 20-25 percent profit, said Yusuf Ali, a boat carpenter at noukar haat.
At Kuriana boat market, a small pinis boat sells forTk 1500-1700, large pinis forTk 2500-4500, dingi Tk 2500-3000, naak golui for Tk 1500- 2000, said boat-trader Stephen Roy.
"Most of the boats of this market are
of flat-bottom type. These are suitable for plying on shallow water and often used for carrying guava, crop and nursery items," said Harshit Mandal, a boat purchaser.
These are usually 13.5 to 18 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide and can be operated easily by one or two boatmen to cover short distances, he said.
A well-built and properly maintained boat can be used on shallow waters for more than one season, said Anwar Mistri of Chami village.
"Over 500 families are involved in boat building trade in this region.
On an average, 60-100 boats are sold every Friday, the market day at noukar haat. The business continues well from May to September/ October, depending on the length of monsoon," said Sarwar Hossain Chowdhury, lesee of the boat market.