Description:
There are numerous rivers and canals spread all over Barisal as well as the whole southern region. Among those, Barisal is filled with paddy, rivers and canals. For this reason, the livelihood of people of this region is closely linked with the rivers and canals. Farmers including vegetable and fruit farmers, fishermen – are dependent on the boats as boats are the only medium to connect rivers and canals.
For centuries, the Hut of traditional boats have been arranged in the canal of ‘Shondha river’ at Atghar Bazar in Swarupakati upazila of Pirojpur. It is reported that as timber was available in Swarupakati and traders from different areas used to come to buy timber and order boats. From that time, the tradition of manufacturing and selling of boats started in this area. As time goes by, the Hut expanded and settled permanently twice a week. The boats are being arranged in a row in Hut. Buyers from different region of the country come to buy boats here. The paddle or scull of the boat is also given to the buyer with boat. The boats have been being created by a few hundreds people so far.
