Traditional Boats of Bangladesh

[Anatol]

Since Bangladesh is a floodplain with more than 700 rivers and numerous haor, boat is a vital means of transportation and communication in the country. It is used for many purposes including carrying goods, catching fish, transporting people to other parts of Bangladesh, accessing remote areas of the country, etc.Its greatest use comes in during the summer monsoon season when many part of the country become flooded. During monsoon season, boats are the only practical way to get around large parts of the country, and so called "country boats" (dingies) of a huge variety of types are pervasive throughout the country, colouring many aspects of culture, especially in rural areas. Traditional wooden boats have been an integral part of the history and culture of Bangladesh, veined by hundreds of rivers, their tributaries and distributaries, and the bay of Bengal in the south. The geography of the country has resulted in more than 50 different types-of sailing vessels-both river and sea-going- such as the Goina, Sorona, Dingi, Patam, Kosha, Malar, Raptani, Shampan and many more. Тhey vary in design, size and construction materials. Most of these can be classified into four types: dingi (also spelt dinghy), large boats, bainkata, and kosha. DINGIS are small rowing boats which provide low cost convenient transport in Bangladesh’s extensive inland waterways. It is most popular and common boats in Bangladesh. Frequently used to cross rivers and carry basic goods (e.g. shopping from local bazaar). Boats are small in size so one majhee is enough to sail. Sometime sails are hoisted atop the dingi. Sampan, Balam, Teddy balam, and Jali are examples of large boats which are mostly power driven and used for commercial purposes. SAMPAN- one of the most common types of boats in Bangladesh. Front head of sampan is high and curved, but backside strait. Varies in length and width. Depicted in folklore and various literature. Floats on huge sea waves. A BAINKATA type generally has a “golui” fore (protective head made of solid wood) and a spoon-shaped hull. Some may just have the hull. In contrast, a kosha type has flat bottom without either a golui or hull. Most of the boats are of bainkata type and includes the ghasi, jong, gachari, dorakha, kathami, mallar, paloani, patam, panshi and bedi. Examples of kosha type are bhudi and raptani. These boats carry out different functionalities ranging from catching fishes, transporting people or large goods, conducting business, and providing shelter. GOINA: Medium-sized boats used to carry passengers. BALAR (Batnai or Podi): A special kind of boat which is now rarely seen. Big in size and can carry tons of goods. Usually have two sails and large number of sailors to oar the balar. Boats used for ferrying across narrow rivers, for household and agricultural purposes, or for fishing by individuals, or 4-5 member groups of fishermen in inland waters are of much smaller capacity. Medium and large boats are used for carrying cargo, ferrying passengers and fishing in coastal and offshore waters. Small rowing boats like canoes, dug-outs and dingis are used mainly in rural areas for transporting people, private belongings and crops. Many such boats as well as boats in commercial operation and fishing are now indigenously fitted with engines of shallow tubewells. The large commercially operated cargo boats include types such as sampan, balam. teddy balam, trawler and jali (sulluk). These are now mostly power driven. The exhibition ‘Traditional Boats of Bangladesh” is a part of Friendship’s Cultural Preservation Programme, which strives to conserve the heritage of boat building in Bangladesh and facilitate socioeconomic development of the boat builders and their families. Sketches of some typical boats Courtesy: Hamiduzzaman Khan and Hashem Khan.
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Source: http://www.londoni.co/index.php/lifestyle?id=337. http://www.ebanglapedia.com/en/article. ... zmwFTWLTIU.