The ‘boat village’ of Barguna

• Chunakhali dubbed Bangladesh's famed boat village
• Two centuries of heritage sustain local economy
• Artisans craft dingis, earn daily livelihoods
• Officials consider loans to support craftsmen

In the remote village of East Chunakhali in Barguna, the day doesn't start with an announcement from overenthusiastic roosters, but with the cling-clang of hammers and chisels. Walk through the alleys any time of the year, and you'll find house after house busy shaping timber and sealing planks — men bending over raw logs, trimming them into smooth, curving ribs. The air smells of freshly cut wood mixed with the tang of tar and marine paint.

The village, located in Kukua union under Amtali upazila, houses some 900 families. Over 250 of them are directly involved in the craft of boatmaking, earning it the nickname "boat village."

For nearly 200 years, crafting boats has been the lifeblood of this riverside village. Every year, the artisans of Chunakhali build boats worth nearly Tk 2 crore, sustaining a centuries-old heritage while keeping the local economy afloat.

"People from faraway places know this as a boatmaking village," said Borhan Uddin Ahmed Masum Talukder, chairman of Kukua Union Parishad. "The trade has not only preserved our tradition but also improved the livelihoods of villagers."

A visit to the village reveals yards filled with small sheds made of tin or polythene, where groups of carpenters work side by side. Each pair of craftsmen can make one small boat, known locally as a "dingi," in a single day, earning about Tk 800 to Tk 900 each.

These light wooden boats are in high demand across the coastal belt. They are easy to maneuver in shallow waters and are used for fishing, carrying harvested paddy, or transporting goods to local markets.

For nearly every artisan, the craft is a generational inheritance. Elderly craftsman Barek Mistri, who has been building boats for 50 years, says it all began with Lalu Mistri.

"About two centuries ago, a man named Lalu Mistri started making boats here," he said. "Other villagers learned the skill from him. Many families followed his lead, and it became our main occupation."

Standing nearby, Muzammel Mistri described the costs involved. "A small boat costs about Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,500 to make and sells for Tk 3,000 to Tk 3,500. Bigger ones cost around Tk 9,000 and sell for Tk 12,000 to Tk 15,000."

The boats made in Chunakhali are sold in markets across Amtali, Kalapara, Galachipa, Gazipur, and Patuakhali. Since most of the timber is sourced locally, production costs remain low and profits higher.

"I came all the way from Lalua in Kalapara upazila to buy boats here," said Sattar, a fisherman. "The boats made in this village are durable and last longer than others."

Amtali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Rokonuzzaman Khan acknowledged the economic potential of the village's craftsmanship. "Boats made in Chunakhali are in high demand," he said. "We're considering ways to support the artisans, including easy-term loans to help them expand their work."