From Dhaka to Barisal - A river journey in Bangladesh.
Barisal Division is a province without much historical architecture and scenic spots, but it is a maze of rivers, which is also the most typical geographical feature of Bangladesh. So I decided to take a ship from Dhaka to Barisal, which is also a brand new experience. Bangladesh's shipping industry is similar to its automobile transportation, with official and private companies. It is recommended to buy cabins near the ship's side from private companies, which are much more comfortable than those from official companies. When traveling by ship in Bangladesh, it is recommended to avoid major religious festivals. Otherwise, not only may it be difficult to buy tickets, but also the scene of people climbing on top of trains and cars, which is often seen on TV in China, may also appear on the ship. There have been tragic accidents caused by the imbalance of ships due to overcrowding.
The ship departs from Sadarghat, and the night pier becomes a crowded bazaar and transportation hub. Be sure to remember your ship's name, as the pier is usually full of ships heading to various places, so don't get on the wrong one. Sitting on the deck, watching the chaos and restlessness of Sadarghat below, it turns out that Sadarghat at night is the real Bangladesh. The whistling and surging crowd on the pier, people depart from here to the inland cities scattered throughout the country; sampans loaded with snacks, fruits and drinks squeeze in at the shore, shouting loudly, and the first deck is crowded with people; on the second and third decks, people mostly start to rest and avoid the lingering stench of the Buriganga River.
After a whistle sounded, the ship slowly began to sail. The figures of people on the shore became increasingly blurred, eventually becoming circles in dim light and shadow. A gust of wind blew, and it turned out that the river surface was so cool. After sailing out for half an hour, the smell disappeared, and the river water illuminated by the lights became much clearer. In the silent night, both banks were pitch black. Upon entering the Meghna River, I unexpectedly felt a chill.
From Dhaka to Barisal, the ship passes through three rivers: Buriganga, Meghna, and Kirtonkhola. Bangladesh's shipping industry has a particularly humane rule that allows passengers to sleep in and pack up before disembarking, regardless of when the ship docks. This ship should have arrived at Barisal River Port Terminal at 5am, but I overslept and missed the sunrise on board. By early morning, the Kirtonkhola River was already bustling with various boats coming and going, and the dock was even more noisy. People began to disembark with their luggage, while port workers were busy unloading cargo from the arriving ships.
On the streets of Barisal in the morning, it is much quieter. There is not much to see in the city, so take a bus to the small village of Madhabpasha about 10 kilometers northwest of the city, where there is a natural park called Durga Sagar, which is home to various birds. After walking around the dense forest in the park, there is not much to see except for various unnamed plants and bird calls. If you are not particularly interested in bird watching, there is no need to come here.