Although the floodwaters in Rajshahi’s Middle Char have begun to recede, the suffering and uncertainty of residents remain far from over. As the water level drops, severe shortages of food for both people and livestock have emerged. The threat of snakes in higher areas has also prevented many families from returning home.
Only a few families remain in the char amid these difficult conditions. Others travel by boat to check on their homes at least once a day. On the opposite side of the char, hundreds of people who were forced to leave their homes have taken shelter near Dogar Ghat along the Padma River, arriving by boat. Despite the receding water, many are still unable to return home.
The crisis has affected hundreds of families, with livestock – the primary livelihood for many char residents – also facing acute hardship. With no safe place to keep their cattle, many families have been forced to bring their animals with them to the riverbank. The district administration has distributed dry food among affected families and arranged medical camps, while a proposal has been sent to the government for the construction of two large permanent shelters to serve both people and livestock during future floods.
For now, however, the families of Middle Char remain in limbo: their homes waterlogged, their future uncertain, and their wait for a lasting solution far from over.
