Boat-building keeps century-old tradition alive in Pirojpur's Nesarabad

For generations, boat-building has been more than a traditional craft in Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur – it has been a vital source of livelihood for thousands of families and an important part of the local economy.

At least 5,000 to 6,000 families in the Atghar area are directly or indirectly involved in building traditional wooden boats.

Around Tk25-30 crore worth of boats are sold annually, making the industry a significant contributor to the region's economy.

The boats are traditionally built using timber such as mahogany, kalikoroi, sonai, rain tree and chambal.

Though modern transportation has reduced dependence on waterways, boats remain an important means of carrying agricultural produce, including guava, hog plum and betel nut, from one place to another.

In recent years, boats have also gained renewed importance with the development of boat-based tourism in Nesarabad, adding a new dimension to the centuries-old craft.

Atghar Boat Market

Atghar Bazar hosts one of the country's oldest and most popular traditional boat markets. Held every Friday, the century-old weekly market continues to draw buyers and sellers from different parts of the region.

The market becomes particularly busy from Baishakh to Bhadra, when wholesalers from Barishal, Khulna and neighbouring districts come to purchase boats.

Boat prices vary depending on their size, design and construction. Prices generally start at around Tk2,500 and can rise to Tk12,000 or more for larger and better-built boats.

The market is not merely a place of commercial exchange. It has become a living symbol of the region's boat-building heritage, where generations of craftsmen continue to pass down their skills.

From local market to Germany

The traditional industry recently attracted international attention after a German tourist visited Nesarabad in August 2024 and became impressed by the design and craftsmanship of the locally made boats.

According to people involved in the deal, the German visitor placed an order for 10 boats on his own initiative.

With the mediation of Mohammad Zuban of Barishal, he entered into an agreement with renowned boat craftsman Md Azizul Haque and purchased 10 boats at Tk12,000 each.

The buyer later expressed interest in importing another 20 boats, raising hopes that Nesarabad's traditional boat-building industry could eventually find a place in overseas markets.

For local craftsmen, the development has opened a new window of opportunity.

Heritage with export potential

The Nesarabad boat industry demonstrates how a traditional rural craft can potentially evolve into a sustainable and export-oriented economic sector without losing its cultural identity.

With government support, structured training, access to finance, improved marketing and export-focused economic diplomacy, locally made boats could be promoted in international markets, according to people involved in the industry.

For now, the boats of Atghar continue to be built in small workshops and sold in a traditional weekly market. But their journey from the waterways of Pirojpur to a German buyer suggests that this centuries-old craft may have a future beyond Bangladesh's rural waterways.