Rajshahi, August 8 (V7N) – Over 15,000 people living in 15 char villages of Chakrajapur Union in Bagha upazila are facing severe waterlogging and erosion due to the rising water level of the Padma River. More than 100 families have already lost their homes and are being forced to relocate under extremely difficult conditions.
 
On-ground reports from Diyarkadirpur, one of the affected chars, reveal that all 25 families residing there are surrounded by water. The same condition persists across 14 other nearby chars, leaving residents stranded and unable to move between homes except by makeshift dinghies constructed from tin. These isolated communities lack access to nearby markets, worsening their hardship.
 
Most residents of these chars depend on agriculture for their livelihood. However, with their croplands now submerged, many have turned to fishing in order to survive. Some manage to catch fish and sell them at distant markets, which is now their only source of income.
 
According to local estimates, the affected population across the 15 Padma chars is approximately 15,500 people, comprising around 3,600 families. In places like Diyarkadirpur, most residents live on rented land, often paying Tk 20,000 to 25,000 annually for 20 kathas.
 
Sabirul Islam, a local resident, shared his ordeal: “My wife, two sons, and I built two houses on rented land. Now, due to the floodwaters, we are struggling to survive along with our cattle.” His wife, Salma Begum, added, “There’s no farming work left. I sometimes catch fish with a net and sell it in the market to manage daily expenses.”
 
Jalal Uddin, a former member of Ward 1 under Chakrajapur Union, explained that the ward includes Diyarkadirpur, Tiktikipara Char, and parts of Chakrajapur and Kalidaskhali. “There are more than 300 families in this ward alone, with 1,035 registered voters. Most of the area is low-lying cropland, now completely inundated,” he said.
 
The region's education infrastructure is also under threat. Chaumadia Government Primary School has already been relocated due to river erosion, while Laxminagar Government Primary School is now at risk as the Padma continues to erode its banks.
 
Former Chairman of Chakrajapur Union Parishad, Azizul Azam, confirmed that most of the 3,600 families in the Padma char area are now living in waterlogged conditions. “Floodwaters have entered homes. More than a hundred families have been rendered homeless due to land collapse. Many have taken refuge elsewhere, living in subhuman conditions along with their livestock,” he said.
 
As water levels show no sign of receding, affected residents are calling for urgent government intervention, including relocation support, food aid, and sustainable flood protection measures.
 
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