Magnet fishers and Buriganga’s hidden treasures

From a young age, Ganguli's aquatic skills were unmatched, earning him the nickname "Ganger Ganguli" (Ganguli of the river). 

Naturally, he chose the riverbed as his livelihood.

Using powerful magnets, he retrieved scrap metals – iron, brass, copper, and even precious metals like silver and gold – from the Buriganga riverbed.

Inspired by Ganguli, many left traditional jobs to follow in his footsteps, becoming what locals call "chumbok marar lok" (magnet fishers).

They tie heavy magnets to ropes, lower them into the river, and collect whatever sticks to the magnetic pull. These items are sold to recyclers, with iron fetching Tk45-Tk47 per kg and copper ranging from Tk900-Tk1,100.

In his prime, Ganguli bought a 13kg magnet for Tk15,000-Tk16,000. "With that magnet, I never made less than Tk2,000-Tk2,500 a day. Thirty years ago, Tk2,000 was a lot," he recalls fondly.

Life was comfortable back then. Ganguli had no shortage of anything and could provide well for his wife and two children.

But times have changed. Modern vessels now dominate the rivers, leaving fewer scraps to be found, and his earnings have dwindled.

"With rent at Tk6,000 and food expenses at around Tk10,000, my monthly expenses are close to Tk30,000," says Ganguli.

He hasn't done magnet fishing in the last 4-5 months, as he now operates a boat, which has become his main source of income.

At sixty, Ganguli still takes on diving jobs as a side gig, a skill he once mastered, holding his breath for 2-3 minutes underwater.

Into the depth

When someone loses something valuable, or if a ship's machinery or engine falls, or if there's a need to find lost gold or silver, Ganguli and his team are called in.

They also take on the grim task of recovering bodies from the river. Just a few months ago, Ganguli was called to Sylhet for such a mission.

Once able to dive without oxygen, age has slowed down Ganguli. Now he can only stay underwater for a minute before beginning to struggle for breath.

During the colder months, he rests for three months, relying on his son's income, while continuing magnet fishing and diving in the warmer months when the current is stronger and metals are more abundant.

"Winter makes it harder. The cold takes my breath away and leaves me feeling feverish. But in the heat, diving is easier. I can stay underwater longer without catching a cold," says Ganguli.

Recently, his 13kg magnet was stolen, almost pushing him into quitting the trade. However, with an oxygen mask now, he dives once more, retrieving lost valuables from the riverbed with ease.

Striking 'gold'

The river can be unexpectedly generous to magnet fishers.

"Once, I was magnet fishing in the middle of the river when I found a massive ship fan, weighing over a tonne. I sold it for nearly Tk40,000. I'll never forget that day," says Ganguli.

Noor Alam, another magnet fisher, recalls a memorable day when he earned Tk35,000.

"I was fishing at Sadarghat when I pulled up a heavy object. It turned out to be a ship's motor. The motor's coil contained 26kg of copper. I sold the copper for Tk27,000, and altogether, I earned Tk35,000," he explains.

Inspired by Ganguli, Noor Alam, originally from Shariatpur, moved to Dhaka 53 years ago. He started as a boatman before learning magnet fishing in his spare time. In 2020, he saved up to buy a 4.5kg magnet for Tk26,000.

With this magnet, Noor Alam now earns over Tk1,000 daily, and some days the income is enough to cover his entire month's expenses.

More damage, more profit

Valuable metals can still be found in the Buriganga, although the profession was much more in demand before the Buriganga Bridge was built.

Ganguli recalls, "Before the bridge was there, there was more activity – fighting, crossings, accidents – things would often break or fall into the river. Back then, we recovered more with magnets. Now, there's nothing like that anymore. No more damage. The more damage, the greater the profit."

When asked about the best spots to find materials along the river, from Postogola to Nayabazar, Ganguli responds, "It's all about luck. Sometimes you find a chain in one spot, a fan in another. It's unpredictable."

Noor Alam, however, believes Sadarghat is the most fruitful area, thanks to the heavy movement of ships and launches, which often causes goods to be dropped, making it a prime spot for magnet fishers like him.

30-35 still in trade

Modern oxygen machines and advanced diving techniques have diminished the role of magnet fishers. Today, only about 30-35 people remain in the profession, including a woman.

These magnet fishers possess remarkable knowledge of the river's depths along the entire Buriganga.

Noor Alam explains, "In some areas of this river, the depth is 35, 12 or 15 feet, while Waisghat reaches 70-80 feet. The deepest is at Mitford Ghat, with significant depths also at Charer Matha and Kolamora Ghat."

Understandably, none of Ganguli or Noor's children have followed in their fathers' footsteps. The decreasing income has made the profession less appealing.

Yet, the love for the trade remains strong for Noor Alam and Ganguli. 

"Magnet fishing has created an unbreakable bond with the river. It's hard to walk away from it," Noor Alam reflects. "With a magnet, you'll always find something. The Buriganga will always give back something."

Ganguli agrees, "The Buriganga has never sent anyone home empty-handed. It has given something to everyone who has worked here, and it has given to us too."