A Trip through Rivers

Our story starts somewhere in between the Corona outburst during winter. The lockdown was lifted, but our educational institutions remained closed. There was not a single day where I didn't feel dull and bored. Nevertheless, two of my friends suddenly decided to plan a trip to 'Chandpur.' And when I got the invitation to join them, I jumped at the opportunity. We had to take The Launch and go through four rivers: Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Padma, and Meghna. I had never gone on a launch, so initially, I was a bit unnerved. However, still, I went along with the plan because I always wanted to ride in a launch, and I was not going to get another offer any time soon. So, I started packing my bags.

The Launch Terminal

It was the morning of December 2nd, 2020. The weather was foggy and cold. I woke up at the break of dawn, prayed Fajr, and met up with my friends, Faisal and Samiul. We headed to 'Sadarghat Launch Terminal.' This was going to be my first time at a Launch Terminal, so it was something special for me. We headed to the location by bus. The view was something else when I reached there, like nothing I had ever seen. The big ships, the launches, the variety of the people. I can not explain it in words. You have to experience it for yourself.

Sadarghat Launch Terminal

The Launch

After touring around the terminal, we decided to board on to a launch. Seeing how people were boarding on the launch was a bit scary at first; they had to walk on a thin piece of board, which was on top of the river, to get on it. I didn't know how to swim, so I was especially a bit scared, but acted normally in front of my friends. We boarded the launch and realized it wasn't that bad. It was also my first time on a launch if it needed to be more obvious. So I was ecstatic. I couldn't wait to tour the whole launch, but there was also a sense of intimidation because of all the accidents I had heard from childhood. I still pressed on. We picked out a spot by the windows and headed out.

Our Bags

We went from top to bottom to make sure to catch all of the things. The launch was relatively smaller compared to the other launches at the terminal, so it took us only a little while to get a feel of the interior.

The roof of The Launch

The side of The Launch

The front of The Launch

The People

One of the reasons a trip is always interesting is because of the people around you. It can make or break your trip. If the people surrounding you are funny or helpful, you got yourself a nice ride. But if they aren't, then you got yourself a miserable experience. Fortunately, we met a lot of nice people on the journey. Most people wanted to mind their own business, but some wanted to make a bond or pass some time.

People resting in The Launch

The first friendly encounter we had was in the Tea Stall. It is well known that, in Bangladesh, the tea stall always brings a welcoming feeling. We had some tea, did some banter with the strangers, and had a lot of fun. It didn't feel as though we were strangers; it felt as if we had known each other for years.

The Tea Stall

The second place we had an encounter was actually in front of The Bridge (the ship's control room). We chatted up a bit with the sailor (in a way that didn't distract him, obviously!). He was extremely friendly and answered a lot of questions we had.

The Sailor

The View

And lastly, the view. When I heard that we would go to Chandpur by launch, the view came first to mind. How would the view be in the middle of the river? Where there is nothing except us. Well, now I can say, the view was nothing less than spectacular. You have to actually be there to get a feel for it. The weather, the cold breeze, the fog, the sky, the river, everything came together perfectly to give a sensation like no other. I can not explain it in words. The pictures don't do justice, but just let the pictures do some of the talking.

View from The Dock

View from a Window

View of The Sky

Reaching the Destination

We lost complete track of time and place because we kept ourselves busy. All of a sudden, we started to see land in the distance. And there we knew was the port of Chandpur. We had two friends waiting to pick us up from the terminal. In a few short minutes, we docked at the port. We were a bit sad that our trip ended, but we learned a lot of new things, and I overcame my fear of sailing the seas. Also, it wasn't the time to be sad, as we had the whole of Chandpur to tour! That could be another story for another day. Who knows!?

Getting ready for what Chandpur has to offer!