The floating timber market of Barisal was started in 1918 on a canal of the Sandha river based on the logs coming from Sundarbans. Trading the signature “Sundari” tree of Sundarbans, the largest mangrove swamp in the world, was the main business here at that time. After putting ban by the govt. on trading Sundari trees in 1987 to protect the forest, the tradesmen started trading other trees on this market coming from different parts of the country.
Being located in the heart of the Ganges Delta, Barisal has a great network of rivers connected to the whole country, which was the main reason for this market to become very popular. People could easily transport big logs here through the river from all over the country.
Transporting logs has become very easy and cost-effective because of the river. They tie logs on both sides of an engine boat floating on water and move very slowly. Sometimes there are 10-15 boats tied together with loads of logs tied on both sides of them, and an engine boat drags them from the front. This is a common scene before the 02 market days of the week – Monday and Thursday. They sell these logs sitting on the boats, which makes this a floating log market. This is the largest market of its kind in Bangladesh.
There are also permanent timber shops on the bank of the river. They dump the logs on the river bank and sell from here – 7 days a week. Every log has a unique number from the shop. Lifting and transporting the logs are done using the favor of tide, which makes it less laborious to do manually.
People come here from everywhere in the country. They buy logs and chop them in the numerous sawmills according to their needs. There are about 200 sawmills around the floating timber market to do this. Buyers are mainly the owner of furniture shops from all over Bangladesh. About 13-14 hundred people work based on the floating timber market of Barisal. When there is no work, people gather in the huts on the shore drinking tea and socializing. It could be a great experience to have a couple of cups of tea with them and hang around for a while and share culture.
Other businesses also flourished based on this market. A cottage industry is grown here to make local cricket bats because of the cheap timber available on this market. Also grown dozens of nursery to sell trees to plant, which itself has a different floating market in Barisal, and would be another story to tell.
A video on life in the floating timber market at Barisal
Have you ever visited the floating timber market of Barisal in Bangladesh? How amazing have you found it? Share your thoughts and experience with us in the comments.
Check out our Barisal Backwater Tour to experience life on Ganges Delta in Barisal including visiting the floating timber market, and our 1-7 days tour packages in Bangladesh, and 8-28 days holiday packages in Bangladesh to visit Bangladesh with comfort.