Md. Ekram Hossein

Boats of Arakan

Woodwork (WDW)

Transport

Naw means boat, and is a standard feature of rural Rohingya life. Before the days of road connectivity, the naw  was the normal mode of transport.

Naws are operated by three people, two fuiwalas (rowers) who have an oar each, and the mazhi, who controls the rudder and steers the boat. Joined timber is used to make a naw and the hull is typically coated with a layer of tar to provide a sort of waterproofing. The railings along the inside are knows as behars.

Other than as a means of transportation, farmers use these boats to take their produce to market, and to bring things back with them. There are two cargo ports at the two ends of the boat where things can be stored. Naws are occasionally used as fishing vessels too, and fishermen can spend up to a week in them on fishing expeditions. Small cooking kits can be stored onboard.