by As soon as you enter the Ratargul wetland in Sylhet, a deep voice calls out—
“In a little while, we are entering the Ratargul. You will see the beautiful beauty of the trees floating by. If you are lucky, you will also see the flight of birds or the jumping of fish.”
The owner of this voice is boatman Md. Sifat Ullah. Along with boating for tourists, he sings ghazals. That is why Sifat has become a special joy for many people on a trip to Ratargul.
Sifat’s days in Ratargul
Sifat enters this wetland in Gowainghat upazila every day with tourists. Even though he is over fifty, boats are still his lifeline. He spends most of his time on the water. Boating is his main source of income.
The forest department has fixed the rules for renting boats. 8-10 passengers board each trip, and the fare is 750 taka. Of this, he has to pay 115 taka to the forest department. So the income is not very much. However, he earns a little extra by singing ghazals. In his words, “I know two ghazals, I sing both of them. When someone hears it, they are happy and give me a tip, that’s how the family runs.”
A story of family and dependence
Sifat’s family has a wife, two sons and two daughters. One son has followed his father’s path and chosen to work as a boatman. One daughter is married. He has to work hard every day to provide for the education of the other children and the family’s expenses. For him, Ratargul is not just a workplace, it is like another family.
The attraction of Ratargul
In 1973, the forest department declared Ratargul, an area of 504 acres, as a reserved forest. This water forest surrounded by haors and rivers takes on a unique beauty during the monsoon, and that’s when the thirsty travelers flock. Tourists float in boats and enjoy the beauty of the Hijal, Karach and Murtagach trees.
Locals say that tourism has created employment opportunities in the surrounding villages. The villagers are also vigilant in protecting the balance of forests and nature.
Travel experience with the tune of ghazals
In the middle of the boat trip, Sifat’s ghazal suddenly comes to mind—
“I will never forget, I cannot forget the golden Medina…”
Tourists listen with fascination. Many say that just as the night tour is breathtaking, Majhi Sifat’s ghazals make the experience even more memorable.
