Thousands fleeing river islands of Bangladesh. Here’s why

Charfasson: Strong waves gradually wash away the island at the mouth of the sea, and with it the houses, fields, buildings, markets, roads, everything.

Over two decades of constant erosion, the island’s settlement area has shrunk from 15 sq km to just 3.5 sq km. The coastal island of Dhal Char, nestling in the delta of the Meghna river in Bangladesh, is about to disappear. About 3,500 families, with about 17,000 people, have dwindled to about 1,000 families with 8,000 people, according to the Dhal Char union council.

“I had five houses of my own here,” says Saiful Haque, 65, wiping the tears that flow with the memories. “Cultivated land was 20 acres. There were many buffaloes. I have spent all my life savings here. Now I am destitute. This Meghna river has taken my all.” In common with thousands of others, Haque has left Dhal Char and has no intention of returning.