RANGPUR, Oct 31: To the need of commoners, horse-drawn carts still facilitate movement across char (shoal) areas in Rangpur district though its use as a mode of transport has become obsolete in most parts of the world.
Both demand and use of horse-pulled carts is increasing day by day for the transportation of both people and goods in different char areas of the district.
Hundreds of people in the char areas of the Teesta River are earning their livelihood by driving horse carriages.
Sources said other modes of vehicles cannot move so easily over the rugged tracts in the sandy char areas while horse-drawn carts have acquired the name of the key mode of transport being able to carry goods as well as people so easily in such areas.
Shabu Mia, a coachman of horse-drawn carts in Char Morneya area of Gangachara upazila, told The Financial Express that many people in remote char areas earn their living by driving horse carts, especially for carrying goods as the use of other vehicles is hardly possible in the areas.
Shabu said he has been in this profession for around 10 years. He earns Tk800-1,000 daily.
His earning rises significantly during crop harvesting time. He has to spend Tk 300-400 per day for buying horse feed. In one trip at least 14-16 maunds of goods can be transported, he added.
Ataur, another coachman of horse carts at Char Dhushmara village in Kaunia upazila, said many people who left the profession of agriculture and fishing are making a living by driving horse carts as this profession is much lucrative in the char areas.
He added they usually transport different agricultural produces from char areas to the mainland. Sometimes, they also carry people, especially, sick people, he added.
Hashem Ali, a farmer of Char Dhushmara village in Kaunia upazila told The FE, "We have to depend on horse-drawn carts for carrying agricultural produces as plying of other vehicles is not easy in the sandy char areas."
A good number of char people of Gangachara and Kaunia upazila told The Financial Express horse-drawn carts are used to carry goods like paddy, corns, sugarcane, wheat and other agricultural produce to markets for buying and selling as it is much difficult to use other vehicles for carrying goods in remote char areas.
Therefore, popularity of horse-drawn carts is on the rise considering the convenience of plying such types of vehicles on sandy roads of char areas.
sayedmofidulbabu@gmail.com