Speedboat body making gains foothold in Rangamati

Chayanika Chakma, who teaches at a government primary school, used to go to Rangamati Sadar by launch from her home in Baghaichhari's Marishya union. 

Marishya is a remote area and the only way to travel to Rangamati Sadar from there is to use water transports. The travelling time is around six hours and a half by launch.

Sometimes, It took Chayanika a total of 13 hours to go to Rangamati and come back home. The long-haul journey made her exhausted.

With the introduction of speedboats on the route, however, the scenario changed in 2015. The engine-powered vehicle reduced the travelling time by almost half for many working people like Chayanika.

As a result, the demand for speedboats was growing fast.

Dwipanjan Dewan and Jayanta Chakma realised that they could cash in on the increasing demand for this mode of transport. They set up two factories in Asham Slum area to make speedboat bodies. 

The factories – Super Boat One and Rajdwip Marine Service – now employ 18 people who come from different parts of the hill district of Rangamati.

One of them is Liton Chakma, who did not find any work in his village. Now, he works at Super Boat One.

He told The Business Standard that he was happy to be employed at the factory.

"The factory has given me the chance to work and make money," Liton said.

Dwipanjan and Jayanta said they make speedboat bodies considering the needs of all types of passengers.

Dwipanjan, founder of Super Boat One, told The Business Standard that his factory had so far made 24 motorboat bodies.

He said the vehicles would be ready to transport passengers after installing the engines.

"The boats are made with fibreglass, each having the capacity of carrying eight passengers. They will not sink. Even if the body is broken in an accident, the boat will not go under water. Passengers can even save their lives by holding the broken body pieces," explained Dwipanjan.   

He said the speedy, fuel-efficient boats need two litres of octane to travel 30 kilometres per hour.

Darpan Chakma is the chief fibreglass technician at Dwipanjan's factory. He said the factory can produce eight bodies in a month. 

"Beside speedboats, kayak bodies are also being made in the factory," he added.  

Jayanta's Rajdwip Marine Service makes fibreglass rocket bodies of speedboat.

Mohammad Abul, a worker of the factory, said it takes seven to ten days to make a motorboat body. 

The time may be reduced if the workers are efficient, he said.  

Jayanta said: "We are making bodies for speedboats that can carry 10-12 passengers."

"In the past, we used to bring these bodies from Dhaka. Those would become unusable after a few years. In our factory, we are now making bodies that are hundred times stronger," he added.