Rivers are the most important geographical features in Bangladesh, and it is
the rivers that created the vast alluvial delta. Bangladesh is proud of its
vast rivers and therefore affectionately called 'the Land of Rivers' by its
people. Every year they enrich the soil and make it more fertile.
The best way to see the real beauty of Bangladesh and its rivers is by taking
a boat trip on the rivers. A trip from Dhaka to Barisal on board the famous
Paddle Steamer / large modern vessels through some big and small rivers gives
you the opportunity to witness this unique beauty. Moreover we used to arrange
short (3 hours) and daylong (8 hours) river cruise for our valued clients.
Historic Paddle Steamer
In Bangladesh there is a waterway from Dhaka Shadarghat river front to Khulna
(right now till Morelgonj in Bagherhat). The vessels (4 Vessels) those running
at this way are around 100 years old "ROCKET PADDLE STEAMER" In 1889
there wae a service launched by the then British government from CULCATA, Diamond
harbor to Rangoon, Burma (The new name is Yangon, Myanmar). After the separation
at 1947 this service was ran into Dhaka to Khulna under EAST Pakistan Government.
And from 1972 to still it has been running by BIWTA, Bangladesh.
The interesting matter is these passenger vessels are still running their services
regularly. Vessels specialty was it's PADDLE WHEELS and Steam engine. But the
engine had changed at 1995, now it is dieselized. As much information we have
this much old vessel on it's operation exist only in Bangladesh but nowhere
in the World. BBC also made a documentary / report on this "ROCKET PADDLE
STEAMER" in few years ago.
Paddle Steamer Details
Ship |
Built Year |
Remarks |
Mahsud |
1929 |
Assembled by the Garden Reach Workshop in Calcutta and renovated by Dockyard & Engineering Works Ltd at Narayanganj in 1995. |
Ostrich |
1929 |
|
Lepcha |
1937 |
Converted to diesel in 1995 |
Tern |
1948 |
Length: 194 ft. x breadth 26 ft. - 460 GRT originally Triple Expansion Diagonal, coal fired but later fitted with Crossley diesels. The design was based on that of Lepcha of 1937. The designed passenger capacity was 1770 with 970 allowed overnight. 120 tons of cargo could be carried. |