Cox’s Bazar’s once-bustling boat yards are now a shadow of their former selves. Fishermen and industry insiders report that where boat and trawler repairs and construction once continued tirelessly, stagnation has now set in.
Reliable sources indicate that rising raw material costs, a shortage of skilled labor, and unpredictable sea conditions due to climate change have severely impacted the boat-building industry. Yards that once employed hundreds of workers now struggle to survive with only a handful of laborers.
In the past, new trawler orders poured in every season. Now, even repair jobs have become scarce. The soaring prices of wood, fiberglass, and other materials have deterred many boat owners from commissioning new vessels.
Speaking to Cox’s Bazar Life over the phone, Rubel Uddin, a local fishermen’s association leader, stated, “Without government support, this industry will not survive. If the boat yards shut down, thousands of people will lose their livelihoods.”
Despite the crisis, some entrepreneurs are exploring alternative technologies and sustainable materials, offering a glimmer of hope. Locals remain optimistic that Cox’s Bazar’s historic boat-building industry may be revitalized with government backing and modernization.
Only time will tell whether these boat yards will regain their former vibrancy.
By Rajin Saleh
Photo: Hussain Shetu
