Sheikhpura boat market: Sustaining livelihoods in a drying delta

In the southwestern delta of Bangladesh, where roads vanish under monsoon waters, boats are critical for survival. Whether it is fishing, visiting the local bazaar, harvesting crops, or going to school, the rainy season demands one thing above all — a boat. This necessity has made the vessel an indispensable part of the rural economy. For those looking to buy one, the best destination remains the century-old Sheikhpura boat market in Khulna's Terokhada upazila.

As one of the largest in the region, the market continues to serve as an economic hub for communities that depend on the rivers and canals of the delta. Held twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, it draws buyers and traders from Khulna, Bagerhat, Narail, and Gopalganj.

Each market day, rows of handmade wooden boats line the banks of what remains of the Aatharobeki River, waiting for farmers, fishermen, and transporters who still rely on waterways for their livelihoods.

Held twice weekly, the market draws buyers and traders from Khulna, Bagerhat, Narail, and Gopalganj

According to the market's current leaseholder, Md Eskandar Molla, the market generates transactions worth around Tk 40 crore during the peak season from mid-June to mid-October, with 60-70 boats sold per day. "We collect Tk 300 to 400 as a lease fee per boat, though sometimes we waive it for poor traders."

Each boat, priced between Tk 3,000 and Tk 6,000 depending on size and design, brings a modest profit of Tk 300-Tk 500 per trader, though the economic footprint extends far wider. From tree cutters and sawmill operators to carpenters, transporters, and market porters — at least eight occupational groups earn directly from the trade. Food vendors and tea stalls also benefit from the crowds the market attracts.

DWINDLING WATERWAYS

The Sheikhpura market traces its history back over a century, to when rivers were Bengal's main transport arteries.

Local elders recall its origins during the British colonial period, when villagers gathered by the Aatharobeki River to trade fishing nets, bamboo traps, and wooden boats. Over time, it became renowned for handcrafted boats made in Bagerhat's Chitalmari upazila, about 40 kilometres away.

Traders from Chitalmari once floated their cargo through a network of canals — a two-day journey via Kodalia Beel, Kendua Beel, and the Aatharobeki River. Today, those routes are largely gone. Canals have been silted up, encroached upon, or converted to farmland.

Boats now travel by road, stacked 10 to 12 at a time on small motorised vehicles such as nosimon or tomtom.

"Transportation by road is faster but costlier," said Selim Hossain, a trader of three decades. "The waterways have dried up or been filled for cultivation."

Unsold boats are loaded back in the afternoon, to be taken home or kept under a trader's custody until the next market day.

According to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, navigable waterways have fallen to roughly 3,800 kilometres in the dry season, down from more than 12,000 kilometres in the 1960s. The loss has increased logistics costs and reduced access for thousands of rural producers.

CRAFT UNDER THREAT

For many boat sellers, the business is ancestral, says Hassan Mollah, a Chitalmari resident who entered the business following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

"We buy timber, mostly mahogany, and hire local carpenters to make boats at home. It's hard work, but this is our family trade," he said.

"Boats are not just wood and nails," said boatmaker Mollah. "They carry our heritage, our work, and our connection to the water. As long as there is a river in Bangladesh, there will be boats in Sheikhpura."

But as waterways continue to decline, the tradition of boatmaking is under strain. With fewer navigable rivers and rising timber costs, many fear the craft could fade away.

Former union parishad member Kabirul Haque recalls a time when 300-350 boats were sold in a single day. Today, sales have dropped to 70-80. "Over 2,000 people were once directly involved in boatmaking and related work," he said.

In Bagerhat's Chitalmari upazila, dozens of small workshops that once ran year-round now lie silent.

"The price of timber and labour keeps rising, but boat prices haven't changed," said 72-year-old boatmaker Haradhan Mollick, who has been making boats for some 30 years. "After paying for wood, paint, and wages, there's almost nothing left. Many of us have shifted to construction or day labour."

Boatmakers use mahogany and local hardwoods, which are becoming expensive due to restrictions on logging and increased demand from the furniture industry.

"This transition signifies not just the loss of income but the erosion of a century-old skill. We need to reopen and restore our rivers and canals to make them navigable again. These waterways, naturally formed over time, require no bricks, sand, or cement to repair — only the will to let nature flow freely," Mollick added.

Once known as the "Land of Rivers," Bangladesh's rural life has long revolved around water. In Khulna Division alone, more than 130 rivers shape daily existence. Though the number of waterways is dwindling, in districts like Khulna, Bagerhat, Gopalganj, and Narail — crisscrossed by canals and wetlands — a wooden boat remains as essential as a bicycle or motorcycle in the cities.

"Boats are part of our life," said Omar Ali Biswas, a farmer from Mokampur village under Terokhada, who came to buy a new boat for Tk 3,200. "Without a boat, it's impossible to move around or work in our fields during the monsoon."

Alamgir Hossain from Rupsha, who bought a boat for fishing and feeding cattle, said, "Even now, there are villages in Terokhada and Dighalia where children go to school by boat and farmers carry paddy across canals."