The livelihood of at least 30 families of Chatmohar in Pabna district is managed by carrying goods on horse-driven carts. Though the number of horses and horse-cart carriages has decreased in recent times, some families of Chatmohar still use the carriages to transport goods from one place to another to earn the livelihood of their families. A small number of families also rear horses out of fancy.
Kalu Mondal (60) of Langalmora village of the upazila informed he had purchased a horse and a carriage at Tk. 70,000 three years ago and now this horse and the cart is the only source of earning for his family.
During the end of the Winter and the Spring season, he carries Mustard on his horse cart carriage, during the early summer he carries Garlic, Wheat, pulses like Lentil, Khesari, Gram and other crops, during the late Summer to the Rainy season, he carries Boro paddy and during the Autumn he carries the Aman Paddy. Moreover, he carries various goods from one rural market to another whenever he has time.
Rifil Hossain (24) son of Shahjahan Pr of Chhaikola Fakirpara village informed he has been carrying goods on horse carts since he was a mere child of eight years old. He is managing his three-member family including his wife and daughter well from the money he earns by carrying goods on his horse cart.
He further said, he earns Tk. 1,000 daily on average from the job. Out of the money, he needs to spend Tk. 200 to purchase Gram, paddy chaff and other necessary feed for the horse.
Ibad Ali Mollah(56) of Charbin village informed he has been earning his livelihood by carrying goods on a horse cart for several years. He said when there is no work in the area, he goes to places of Bogura, Kushtia and Sirajganj with his horse cart to carry goods there. He informed, nearly 30 people of the upazila are engaged in the job of carrying goods on horse-driven carts.
Principal Abdur Rahim of Chatmohar Technical and BM Institute informed, once upon a time, many people of Chartmohar earned their livelihood by driving horse carts. Many people also reared horses out of fancy and visited one place to another by riding on horses.
They also trained their horse to participate in the Horse Race Competition. But, the horse race competition is almost becoming extinct from the area nowadays, he added.
