19,000 people in Manikganj rely on boats for basic services

More than 19,500 people in three unions of Manikganj’s Harirampur upazila remain heavily dependent on waterways because they have no direct road connection to the upazila or district headquarters.

Harirampur, the largest upazila in the district, covers 245.42 square kilometres and comprises 13 unions. According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, it has a population of 155,469.

However, residents of Azimnagar, Lesraganj and Sutalori unions are surrounded by the Padma, Jamuna and Ichamati rivers, leaving boats as their main means of transport.

The three unions have a combined population of about 19,562. Residents depend on engine-powered boats for education, healthcare, trade, farming and other essential activities.

From early morning, people travel by boat to the upazila headquarters, markets, schools and hospitals. Farmers also use the waterways to transport their produce for sale.

The Andharmanik Ghat-Harinaghat route is the most frequently used. The journey takes about 50-60 minutes and costs Tk 60 per passenger. Thousands of people use the route daily between 7am and 5:30pm.

Several primary school teachers working in the three unions said they have to catch the 7am boat and usually reach Harinaghat around 8am. They then travel by motorcycle or bicycle to their schools. After 5:30pm, however, no regular boats are available, making the return journey particularly difficult during the monsoon.

Healthcare is an even greater concern. When someone falls seriously ill after regular boat services stop, families often have to hire a boat for Tk 2,000-3,000. Poor families struggle to afford the cost, while in emergencies they may have to rely on fishermen’s boats.

Sohel Mia, a resident of Char Dubail village in Sutalori, called for a government-operated water ambulance to help residents reach hospitals during emergencies.

Agriculture is also dependent on boat services. Farmers have to transport their crops by water to markets such as Jhitka. Rough weather can disrupt boat movement and prevent them from taking their produce to market on time.

Farmer Alamgir Hossain said uninterrupted boat services would greatly benefit thousands of residents who depend on the waterway for transporting agricultural products.

Residents also raised concerns about safety. Abid Hasan, a resident of Andharmanik Ghat, said many boats operating on the route do not have life jackets or other essential safety equipment, even though the river can become dangerous during rough weather.

Boat operator Md Farid said 12 engine-powered boats are registered at the ghat for transporting passengers and goods, with six operating each day. After fuel and other expenses are deducted, the remaining income is shared among the 12 boat owners.

Local MP Moinul Islam Khan said river erosion is Harirampur’s main problem and that efforts are focused on constructing permanent embankments to protect the upazila.

He said a long bridge would not be economically feasible for the sparsely populated areas but added that plans were being considered to improve boat services for residents of the three unions.