A JOURNEY BY LAUNCH (Paragraph / Composition / Essay)

Paragraph Writing

Composition / Essay Writing

                          A JOURNEY BY LAUNCH

A few days ago I had an occasion to make a journey by steam launch. I was returning to Dhaka after spending the Id-ul-Fitr holidays with my parents at home. I got on board a steam launch at our village ghat to reach Narsingdi.

The launch was jampacked and was carrying passengers and goods far beyond its capacity. I somehow managed to squeeze out a seat on this deck. Within a few minutes the launch steamed off. Soon my village ghat went out of sight.

The launch sped on along a small river. With the rattling of the engine, I could feel a sense of motion creeping along the limbs of my body. The steam vessel seemed to advance with rhythmic jerks. As I sat on the deck of the fast moving launch, my eyes caught glimpses of the villages on both sides of the river. At times it appeared that the launch was stationary while the houses and trees on both the banks were moving in opposite direction.

At about 4 p.m. the launch reached the Meghna River. At the junction, the river appeared to me so wide that it inspired awe in my mind. Owing to strong current of the Meghna our steam vessel went spattering for a time with sudden jerks. So I felt a bit uneasy. However, it soon came to itself and there was now a vast expanse of water before us. The banks of the river looked green with paddy fields and strings of boats big and small, were seen playing up and down the river. Fishermen were seen here and there busy about catching fish.

The launch sped on and on and after an hour’s journey it crossed the Meghna and proceeded through a small river. We could now enjoy the rural scenery from close quarters. The villages were standing along the bank. Women were seen here and there coming to the river ghats and taking water. Men were cutting ears of paddy and jute plants. Many of them were singing and some were smoking tobacco standing in the water. The varied pictures of the rural life filled my heart with great joy.

At about sunset the big tin sheds of the jute offices at Narsingdi came to my view and looked fine from the steam launch. It was now evening as the sun was going down. My heart was filled with joy to see the setting sun reflected on the river. The scenes on the river and the horizon in the distance were charming. The launch touched at the Narsingdi Launch Terminal. The journey was not over.

I got down at the terminal and quickly left for the Narsingdi Railway Station to catch train. Though the journey was made amidst rush and bustle, it has left some pleasant memories with me.