Dhaka, July 11 -- In the Haor region of Sunamganj, an age-old proverb says, 'Borsai nao, shuknai pao', meaning boats in the rains, walk in the dry.

But this year, with river levels alarmingly low, the saying seems to have lost its relevance, taking a toll on the trade of wooden boats.

The traditional boat market at Akhtapara in Dargapasha union under Shantiganj upazila has seen an unexpected slump this monsoon.

Water levels across the haor remain unseasonably low, leaving traders and buyers in a state of uncertainty.

Held every Friday for nearly four decades, the Akhtapara boat market has long served as a vital hub for the sale of boats used in transport, fishing, agriculture, and daily life across the wetland belt.

Boats such as Baj...