Elderly Boatman Struggles to Sustain Livelihood on Bangladesh Riverbank

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At 65 years old, Abdur Rahim is a man defined by resilience, spending his days battling both the currents of the Dhanagoda River and the debilitating effects of age and chronic illness. For nearly three decades, the Chandpur resident has navigated the waters of the Matlab Dakshin upazila, working as a ferryman to support his family. Despite suffering from heart disease and rheumatism, he continues to ply his trade, seeing his oar as the only tool capable of holding his modest household together.

Rahim’s journey began in 1997, born out of a necessity to provide for his wife and four children following years of struggling as a day laborer. Today, with his daughters married, the burden of supporting his two unemployed sons rests squarely on his shoulders. From dawn until dusk, he maneuvers his wooden boat across the river, charging five taka per passenger. After paying a daily sixty-taka lease fee for the ghat, he is left with a meager daily income of between 300 and 400 taka.

The financial strain is significant. Factoring in days lost to harsh weather or his own failing health, Rahim typically works 22 to 23 days a month, earning a total of roughly 6,500 to 8,500 taka. These earnings are frequently eroded by the cost of medication, which accounts for up to 300 taka of his weekly budget. Faced with rising commodity prices, Rahim is often forced to rely on credit or shop-based debt to afford basic necessities, yet he remains steadfast in his refusal to beg.

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Local community members hold the aging boatman in high regard, noting his unwavering honesty and work ethic. Golam Nabi, a member of the Fatehpur Union Parishad, describes Rahim as a fighter who never overcharges passengers, despite the physical agony his work causes him.

For Rahim, the boat is not merely a means of transport but a symbol of his autonomy. Though his body is weary and his future uncertain, he remains committed to his labor. He maintains that as long as he has the strength to pull the oar, he will continue to earn his living through sweat and persistence, choosing the hardship of his trade over the indignity of charity.