Dhaka: Every day people from different parts of the country gather in the capital. Among them, the only hope for low-income people is the launch-shaped floating hotel on the river Buriganga. They come to Dhaka and rent seats or cabins in these floating hotels. But the government has consistently imposed restrictions to prevent corona. As a result, hotel owners are in danger of losing their business. However, as the government relaxes the lockdown, they are starting to dream of turning around again.
There used to be floating hotels on the east side of Sadarghat but now it is located on the west side of Babubazar Bridge on the river Buriganga adjacent to Mitford Hospital. Earlier, there were floating hotels at Wise Ghat.
Going to the ground, it can be seen that there is no crowd in front of the hotels like before. The hotel business has stalled since the Corona pandemic broke out last year. But now they are trying to turn around again. After expenditure on account of paying employee bills, electricity bills; sending money home with their own expenses was difficult for them. So now they are trying to make a new venture to make up for the loss.
Golam Mostafa Mia, who was with the Faridpur Muslim Hotel about 36 years ago, got the ownership of the hotel from his uncle Abdus Sattar Mia.
He told Barta24.com that he had suffered a lot during the Corona crisis due to various restrictions. Now I am getting some relief as the lockdown is relaxed. People are coming to Dhaka less now than before. As a result, the number of people staying in the hotel is less. But hopefully it will increase.
Mostafa Mia said that many people could not find the hotel due to the change of location. Passengers would get off the launch at the Wise ghat and go straight to the hotel. But now the number of not being found has decreased.
Pintu Chandra Saha, manager of Uma Ujala Boarding, said there was no boarder before because of Corona. But now some people are coming. We have a lot of regular customers all over the country. Calculate what you earn from here and send it to your family every week. However, due to the decrease in income, you cannot pay at home. I have 15 people out of 42 seats here.
Shamim, manager of Ujala boarding, said, "We now have Tk. 40 per seat, not Tk. 100 per cabin; Which is predetermined. We don't earn much money with our daily expenses, employee bills, electricity bills, wharf rent.
Expressing his desire to return to the previous place, Shamim said, "The work of the ghat is over, now it would have been better if we had the opportunity to go back to the previous place." We could run this hotel business and be happy with our family.
This business was established in Buriganga 50 years ago. You can spend the night in a floating hotel for only Tk. 40; This market is eye-popping information! Usually low-income people stay in these hotels on the river Buriganga.
Rahim, the manager of Faridpur Hotel, said that apart from day-to-day, monthly seats are also rented here. People who come to Dhaka mainly for business spend the night. Many stay for months on end.
These hotels can be entered till 12 pm and leave by 11 am the next day. There are local rooms at Tk. 40, single cabin at Tk. 60 and double cabin at Tk. 100.
A man named Manik said; I rented a seat here for Tk. 40. Where else can I get it at such a low cost? I have come to Dhaka to drive a rickshaw after taking a loan from home. I am getting up here as it is rented for less money.
Kamal, who has been hawking around the capital, has been staying at the Faridpur Hotel for a long time. He said, earlier the rent was Tk. 35 but now it is Tk. 40. I stay at the hotel and eat outside. Where else will you stay in Dhaka cheaper than this? I like it here.
It is to be noted that the journey of the floating hotel of Buriganga started in 1968, through the 'Hindu Hotel'. At that time it was possible to stay and eat in this hotel for only Tk. 4. The name of the hotel also changed with the ownership in 1975. That is now Faridpur Muslim Hotel. The hotel has had catering from the beginning but has been closed since 2002.
There are five more floating hotels in the same place. These are Buriganga Boarding, Shariatpur Boarding, Ujala Boarding; the other two do not have names. Which were built after 1976. Each has 25 to 30 cabins. Each cabin has electricity, lights and fans. There are beds with necessary facilities for passing night though these are not so standard now.