With rivers, canals and wetlands filling up during the monsoon, two century-old traditional boat markets in Manikganj have come alive again, drawing buyers and sellers from across the district and nearby areas.
The weekly boat markets at Gior, held every Wednesday, and Jhitka in Harirampur, held every Saturday, are witnessing brisk sales of wooden boats as people from char areas and low-lying regions look for essential transport during the rainy season.
Wooden boats remain indispensable for many communities during the monsoon, serving as a means of transport, carrying agricultural goods, fishing and daily movement. Boat makers and traders are now busy meeting the rising seasonal demand.
From early morning, sellers bring different sizes of dinghies to the markets by small vehicles and boats. Buyers inspect the quality of wood, design and size before negotiating prices.
Traders said production costs have increased due to higher prices of wood, iron and other raw materials, along with rising labour costs. Depending on size and quality, a wooden dinghy is now sold for Tk3,000 to Tk12,000.
Sohrab Bepari from Machain area of Gior said demand and prices both rise as water levels increase. “Different types of wooden boats are sold here alongside traditional dinghies,” he said.
Shahjahan Mia, who came from Daulatpur to buy a boat, said, “Travelling without a boat is almost impossible during the monsoon. However, prices are slightly higher this year.”
Oar trader Ajay Sutradhar said boats worth around Tk9 lakh to Tk10 lakh are sold every Wednesday at the Gior market.
The Jhitka boat market in Harirampur, established during the British era, continues to preserve the tradition of river-based Bengal. Although hundreds of boats once arrived at the market, the number has now declined to around 60–100 boats per market day.
However, increased rainfall and rising water levels this season have brought more buyers back to the market.
Local craftsmen are making boats using rain tree, koroi, chambal and mahogany wood. Boat maker Paritosh said higher timber prices and a shortage of skilled workers have reduced their business compared with the past, but the monsoon remains their most important season.
Char resident Mozzaffar said wooden boats are essential for transport, farming, fishing and students’ travel to schools during the rainy season.
Local traders said the boat markets create seasonal employment opportunities for hundreds of people, including timber traders, sawmill workers, oar makers, painters, blacksmiths and day labourers. The traditional markets therefore continue to play an important role in the local economy during the monsoon.
Gior Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nashita Tul Islam said the Gior boat market is a traditional marketplace where different types of boats arrive every Wednesday and buyers come from various parts of the district.
