Country boats in Bangladesh

Sampan and dingi type boats at Cox's bazar

Country boats in the haor areas of Sunamganj District

Water transportation is an important means of communication in Bangladesh, a floodplain with more than 700 rivers and numerous oxbow lakes (locally known as haor). Traditional country boats are still popular and they provide low cost convenient transport in this extensive inland waterways. Approximately 150 types of boats still populate the floodplain, and they vary in design, size and construction materials. They would be either of Bainkata type or of flat bottom type. A bainkata type boat would have a golui fore and a spoon shaped hull whereas a flat bottom type would have neither.

River and boat are central to traditional Bengali culture and they fascinated generations of Bengali artists and poets.

Types

• Dingi (dinghy)
• Large boats

Sampan, Balam, Teddy balam, Jali

• Bainkata type

Ghasi,jong, gachari, dorakha, kathami, mallar, paloani, patam, panshi and bedi.

• Kosha (flat bottom without golui)

Bhudi, Raptani

Boat making

Wood is the commonest material used. Traditionally, boats are made by carpenters who will learn the skill by apprenticeship. Seasoning of timber is important in boat making. Commonly used timber are from local woods Jarul (dipterocarpus turbinatus), sal (shorea robusta), sundari (heritiera fomes), and Burma teak (tectons grandis).

See also

• Boat
• Transport in Bangladesh
• List of rivers of Bangladesh
• List of Indian timber trees
• Boats of Bangaldesh