Paddle steamer_21 hours Dhaka to Moralganj

Saturday, clock time 6.15 pm. I am standing at Lalkuthi Ghat of Sadar Ghat. . An orange-colored boat waiting for passengers at the wharf for almost a century. 10 to 15 foreign tourists are busy taking pictures of the boat. There is no crowd to climb on it, there is no hawk. I'm talking about the traditional paddle steamer. Today we are going to the destination in a 21-hour royal journey by paddle steamer, from Dhaka to Moralganj (Bagherhat), we will cross 7-8 districts, 10 ghats, about 15 rivers. The names of the rivers are also strangely beautiful - Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Meghna, Dakatiya, Kirtankhola, Sugandha, Bishkhali, Gabkhan, Sandhya, Kaliganga, Kacha, Baleshwar, Panguchi. Welcome to the 21-hour relaxation tour of the Centennial Paddle Steamer.

The paddle steamers leave Dhaka at 7.30 pm 4 days a week on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (Wednesdays go to Khulna via Mongla). There are 4 members of our team in this tour. Everyone except Pavel has already arrived at the dock. There are only 2 minutes left until 8.30 am. The paddle steamer is not a one minute government man again. There was a rush of thought in my eyes, just then Pavel was running with the platoon pushing the crowd. As soon as he got on the steamer and let out a sigh of relief, he blew the whistle and said goodbye to the busy city. This time he will have to cross 7-8 districts, about 15 rivers.

Non-AC cabin at the rear of the steamer on the second floor, deck class in the middle, AC cabin at the front and VIP deck at the very front. The VIP deck is basically the front of the steamer, with some chairs, empty on three sides. The best view of the trip is available from here. Deck passengers are not allowed to enter here. We left our bags in the cabin and left first to call the VIP to see the beauty of the two banks of the Buriganga. And yes, if you want to travel in a cabin, you must buy a ticket in advance. Tickets for AC cabins can be purchased from the office of "BIWTC" at Banglamatar and tickets for non-AC cabins can be purchased from Sadar Ghat or online at sohoz.com. Rent from Dhaka to Moralganj: Deck Tk. 280, First Class AC Cabin Tk. 3615 (two beds), Second Class Non AC Case Tk. 2100 (Two Beds).

This traditional vehicle also has a reputation for food. If you want to eat in the canteen here, you have to order first. Lets cook after ordering. So we order dinner at 7 pm. Select the menu, the famous khichuri here. And I also order dinner and breakfast.

Leaving Narayanganj on the left and Munshiganj on the right after crossing the Buriganga, Lepcha has crossed the Dhaleshwari and Shitalakshya and reached Meghna. Let's see the beauty of Meghna in the dim light of the broken moon with the clear air of Meghna. Let's not know the history of paddle steamer.

A few pedal steamers still survive around the world, of which 4 are in Bangladesh. PS Lepcha, PS Turn, PS Mashud, PS Ostrich. The ostrich has already left the fleet due to age. Mashud, Lepcha and Turn still survive. Of these, two steamers, the Mashud and the Ostrich, were built at the Garden Rich Workshop in Calcutta in 1926 and 1936, respectively. These have been in circulation for almost a hundred years. During the British rule, they maintained communication between Dhaka-Barisal, Barisal-Goalanda. These steamers were called steamers because they ran on steam produced by coal. These were later converted to diesel. At one time it was the fastest so it was called a rocket steamer. These steamers, which used to cross the river during the British period, are still operating in independent Bangladesh after crossing the Pakistan period.

10.45 pm Leaving the Padma on the right, PS Lepcha made its first stop at the steamer wharf along the Meghna, Dakatia estuary. As soon as the steamer crowded at Chandpur Ghat, the passengers started getting up. Many are getting on the steamer in small boats without using the jetty to avoid the crowds or get up earlier. It had the highest number of passengers from Chandpur. There is no place to call. Most of the passengers from here come to Chandpur by Meghna Express train from Chittagong and travel by this steamer to Barisal, Pirojpur and other places in South Bengal. After a break of exactly 30 minutes, he said goodbye to Chandpur, the city of Hilsa, and his next destination was Barisal. Leaving Chandpur, Lepcha is now floating in the huge chest of Meghna where only water is in sight.

12 o'clock at night. Sleep in the state of two eyes. I am sitting on the veranda of the steamer with a blanket. The cool air flowing from Meghna's chest is trembling. And at such a time maybe you are making a fuss in Dhaka. The fading light of the broken moon in the sky has taken on the color of the strange light reservoir after the waters of the Meghna whose intoxication is not allowing me to go to the cabin.

It's six o'clock in the morning. I woke up on the veranda of the cabin. And Lepcha said goodbye to Barisal on the way to Jhalokati through Kirtankhola river. I came to the front with the morning tea in hand and stood up. Waiting for the Gabkhan channel. Lepcha then stopped at Jhalokati, Kaukhali Ghat on the way to Gabkhan Channel.

Lungi is our traditional dress. What are you thinking?
What is the relation of paddle steamer with lungi again? Wait. Since it is a traditional vehicle and lungi is our traditional clothing, I thought I would spend the rest of the time on the steamer after wearing a little lungi. According to the decision, I left the lungi and called the VIP. After the lungi, I stood beside the railing of the deck, thinking of framing myself in the camera. I looked back and saw a tourist couple from Paris, France, standing beside me to take pictures with me. Picture with me