Horse carts still survive in Rangpur char areas

RANGPUR, Feb 18:  Horse carts have gained much popularity as the main mode of communication among the people living in remote char areas in Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts.

The people of the char and its adjacent areas of the region are using horse carts for carrying both passengers and goods as they are yet to get access to many modern amenities.

Mokbul Hossain (40), a driver of a horse cart of Char Dhusmara at Kawnia upazila in Rangpur district told The Financial Express that presently more than 300 such carts are being used in different char areas under Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts. People are using those carts to carry both passengers and goods as other vehicles are not available.

Jobed Ali (50), another driver of a horse cart of Talpatti char under Gangachhara upazila in Rangpur district said that he has been involved in this profession for 12 years. A horse driven cart can carry    15-20 maunds of goods, he said. At least 7 to 8 passengers can also travel by a cart, he said. People travel to distant places by the cart as it is difficult to ply rickshaw or other vehicles on the sandy roads of remote char areas, he further said.

Some horse cart drivers of Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts said they usually earn Tk 300 to Tk 400 per day. But during crop harvesting period their income increases a lot, as this sort of carts are in high demand during the time for carrying different crops including paddy, maize, wheat etc. During the peak season of harvesting they earn at least Tk 800 to Tk 1000 per day.  

Nazrul Islam (55), a local UP member of Char Nazirdaho at Kawnia Upazila in Rangpur district said, though the number of horse carts has declined in this age of technological development, it is still in huge demand in the remote char areas.