Fishing trawlers carrying catches from the deep sea continue to arrive at Cox’s Bazar Fishery Ghat, while small boats remain busy ferrying fishermen and workers between the trawlers and the shore.
The small boats wait at the ghat for trawlers to arrive. Once a trawler docks, its crew and workers often use the boats to reach the shore to unload fish or carry out other necessary tasks.
The current fare is Tk20 per person. The number of passengers and the workload of the small boats increase whenever more trawlers arrive at the ghat.
Rohmat Ullah, an elderly boatman at the Fishery Ghat, said the fare for crossing by boat had increased several times over the years.
“People used to cross for just Tk2. Over time, the fare rose to Tk10 and now stands at Tk20. I have been operating boats at this ghat and earning my livelihood this way for many years,” he said.
Small boat operators maintain a close connection to the movement of fishing trawlers and the unloading of fish, according to those involved in the ghat’s operations. The boats are regularly used to ferry people and essential goods between the trawlers and the shore.
For generations, this simple boat-ferrying system has remained part of the livelihood ecosystem at the busy fish landing centre. While fares have changed with time, the small boats continue to play an essential role in the daily activities of Cox’s Bazar Fishery Ghat.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
