Traditional sailing boats, once a familiar sight on the Jamuna River in Sariakandi of Bogra, have returned to the waterways as soaring fuel prices prompt local boatmen to revive the age-old mode of transport.
The boats are now mainly used to collect grass from river chars for cattle and goats and to carry light goods. Boatmen say they can save considerably on fuel costs by relying on wind power instead of engines.
The return of the colorful boats has also added to the scenic beauty of the Jamuna.
With varying winds currently blowing across the river, several sailing boats can be seen plying the water, especially in the morning.
The traditional boats generally have either square or triangular sails. Square-sailed boats use three bamboo poles, while triangular-sailed ones use two. A large bamboo pole is fixed vertically in the middle of the boat as a mast, with one or two additional poles attached to it. Thick, colorful cloth is then stretched across the poles to form the sail.
As wind fills the sail, the boat moves across the river. The boatman controls its direction by adjusting the sail with a rope.
Locals said sailing boats were common on the Jamuna, Bangali and other rivers in Sariakandi even in the 1990s. They gradually disappeared after engine-powered boats became widely available.
Traditional boats such as Bojra, Pansi and Mayurpankhi were once a striking feature of the region's waterways, known for their distinctive sails.
Dhalu Fakir, a resident of Sariakandi Sadar Union, said people once depended on sailing boats for long-distance travel and for transporting agricultural produce and other goods.
“Rows of sailing boats could be seen on the river in those days. They were beautiful to watch,” he said.
Fakir said he recently resumed using a sailing boat because of the sharp increase in fuel prices.
“I don't have to use an engine or spend money on diesel and other fuels. It saves me money,” he said.
He now crosses the Jamuna by sailboat every morning to reach a river char, where he cuts grass for his cattle and goats before sailing back home.
The experience, he said, also brings back memories of his childhood.
Sariakandi Upazila Nirbahi Officer S M Mikail Islam said some poor boatmen and livestock owners living along the Jamuna had resumed using traditional sailing boats to reduce fuel expenses.
“The boats are helping them save money while also reducing environmental pollution. At the same time, their return is adding to the beauty of the Jamuna,” he said.