Exactly ninety years ago today, when the ship business was booming in Kolkata, the paddle steamer PS Mahsud was built. This paddle steamer was built in 1929 at the Garden Rich Workshop in Calcutta. We embarked on the longest voyage in Bangladesh on the paddle of the largest paddle rocket steamer Mahsud, with the intention of crossing thirteen well-known rivers.
In this century-old rocket steamer we have a few historian travelers. But before that they had to run from one end of Sadarghat to the other due to their stupidity Who knew, even if the rocket steamer ticket was available from Badamtali Ghat, the launch left from Lalkuthi Ghat? The road has become muddy due to several rounds of rain since the afternoon Unable to move rickshaws from Badamtali to Lalkuthi Ghat as the road is cut above it. Anyway, at the very last moment, even though we went to the wrong dock, the rocket came and picked us up, calling for its centennial.
About 800 rivers, including tributaries, have flowed through Bangladesh with huge amount of water. And with this one trip, it is possible to touch a large number of rivers in Bangladesh. Buriganga, Dhaleshwari, Meghna, Padma, Dakatiya, Kirtankhola, Banshkhali, Gabkhan rivers, Sandhya rivers, Kaliganga, Katcha rivers, Baleshwar and Panguchi - at least these thirteen rivers reach Morelganj from Dhaka. A few days ago, this rocket used to reach Khulna It was a tour of about twenty-seven hours. Due to the navigability crisis, the rocket steamer no longer reaches Khulna but reaches Morelganj in Bagerhat. It takes about twenty hours to reach Morelganj by this paddle steamer.
There are not many rocket steamers in the world today. Among them are Mashud, Ostrich, Lepcha and Tern - these 5 are in Bangladesh. Each of these was made in the same place around the time of the Masuds. The largest of these are ‘Mashud’ and ‘Ostrich’
Coal was initially used as fuel in these steamers, which are about a century old. These were converted from coal paddle steamers to diesel engines in the early eighties. The launch is propelled by two large paddles, hence the name paddle steamer. However, these vehicles are better known as rocket steamers. At that time these steamers were the fastest vessels, hence the name Rocket.
Travel experience
We got on the rocket and grabbed the key to our cabin. Ordinary launches have a deck between the cabin and the river. It is a little difficult to see the river by sitting on the deck in the cabin. But you can see the river directly from the cabin of the rocket steamer, and you can hear the sound of the water rushing. Dhaka at night on both sides of the Buriganga looked stunningly beautiful, thanks to the colorful lighting of the lampposts of various factories along the river.
At nine o'clock the cabin boy of the steamer came and told me to order food. There are two types of matches on the steamer. In one, roasted khichuri, eggs and local chicken broth. In another, white rice, local chicken broth, thin pulses and vegetables. It will cost 200 rupees. Heard, the taste of cooking on the steamer is incomparable. However, the second menu was ordered without much expectation, thinking that the taste might be lost in the rotation of time. While enjoying the beauty of the night, I tasted the food prepared by Butler. Cooking is not bad at all, but it is not very ahamari. We reached Chandpur at eleven o'clock at night. Sitting on the steamer, I saw the big station on the banks of the three estuaries of Chandpur. Although the monument "Raktadhara" in the middle of the Molhead was seen, the sculpture of Hilsa was not seen.
Many passengers at Chandpur Ghat. Got down, new passengers got up again. All of this we got to see sitting in our cabin Went out to see better. The rocket will leave Chandpur and cross the confluence of three rivers Padma-Meghna-Dakatiya. The confluence of the three rivers is a place to see during the day. Here the color of the water can be distinguished with the naked eye. The water of Padma is a little dark, the water of Meghna is cloudy white, and the water of Dakatiya is very clear. Every river that flows in a different form, you can clearly understand when you come here. At the confluence of three rivers, a strong whirlwind eats endless mud There have been many launch sinks here due to this whirlwind. At this time nothing can be seen except the thick water on the horizon.
We have three seats to sit on right next to the cabin. From there, life can be seen sitting comfortably on the river and river banks. As the night progressed, the number of people began to decrease. The people in the cabin are lying on the cabin bed, the people on the deck are spreading the sheets they have brought with them. Ninety years old, the body has been lying in the exhaustion of the whole day. Just waking up, visitors like us looking for the magic of antiquity.
At night I saw two foreigners. I have heard that this rocket service is very popular among foreign tourists, many travelers come to Bangladesh only to travel in this rocket steamer.
While the roofs of almost all launches are accessible to the general public, there is no way to enjoy the river at night on the roofs of rocket steamers. Because the roof of the rocket is not suitable for human movement. A small room, in which the captain of a rocket steamer sits. Next to it is a chill.
At the time when the light of dawn was shining, I stepped on the roof to go to that one chill to see the dawn. Then the rocket landed in Barisal. The rocket reached the Barisal launch dock at 3 pm, and the old steamer rocket has been standing still ever since. So this time seemed to be the best time to get on the roof.
It has been raining since night. Iron stairs have eroded after hundreds of years of use. My chest trembled as I climbed the rain-soaked iron stairs. I got up with courage, and just then the rocket blew a huge whistle and left Barisal.
I was standing and watching the Kirtankhola river with a wonderful feeling. The roof on the top of the paddle steamer running across the river, and the gentle winter dawn caught me with a strange satiety.
After seeing the dawn, I called the following and left The deck chairs are empty. Sitting there, I saw the road of Trish Godown in Barisal, Baddhabhoomi, Kashaban. Shortly after came Gabkhan Channel, Gabkhan Bridge. I visited these places about a year ago. Sitting on the steamer and seeing these familiar places was working differently.
An interesting incident with this rocket can be heard in public. At that time all the huge steamers of the "River and Steam Navigation" company of England were operating in this country. One hundred years ago, the people of this country used to come and go to Calcutta by this rocket steamer. We all know that there is no railway in Barisal as it is surrounded by rivers. But the British government took the initiative to expand the railway in Barisal during that period. At that time, the people of this RSN company were moving from England so that the railway could not come to Barisal. Because their business will fall as soon as the railway comes to Barisal. Since then till today there is no rail communication in Barisal with the whole country.
On the way back to the cabin, we saw two foreigners named Martha and Joe standing next to our cabin. They are two tourists from Portugal Talking to them, they said that they like Bangladesh very much. The people here are very sincere. These two Portuguese came to Asia with a long plan. He came to Bangladesh after visiting Sri Lanka and Nepal. From here you will go to India via Jessore Speaking of which, I came to know that they will go down to Bagerhat just like us.
As the daylight increases, so does the rocket engagement. The stoppage will come every hour. After Barisal came Jhalokati, then Kaukhali. We reached Hularhat in Pirojpur at 10:30 am. After landing at Hularhat, I saw Marta and Joje I thought, since we are going down the same road, they can go with us. They gladly left with us for Bagerhat. I took a bus from Hularhat to Bagerhat. I toured some other places including the sixty-domed mosque in Bagerhat with these two expatriates. At the time of departure, I handed Martha a souvenir with the flag of Bangladesh.
And that's how our rocket steamer journey ended. These rocket steamers are old but very safe and reliable. These steamers have not had any major accidents in the last 90 years. Maybe one day these ancient vehicles rich in history will be closed. Then you can't taste this tradition even if you want to. So take the time out on a paddle steamer trip rich in tradition and history.
Thanks for reading this article for so long.
If you like it Upvote Can give.
