How land erosion is forcing a community in Bangladesh to live entirely on small boats

Jul 14, 2022

Jahanara Begum, a member of the Manta community, sits with her child on the boat they call home, on the Meghna river in Lakshmipur District, Bangladesh.

The erosion of land by rivers is forcing many Bangladeshi families to live on boats. Image: Reuters/Zakir Hossain Chowdhury

Zakir Hossain Chowdhury

Writer, Freelancer

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The entire Manta community now lives on boats on two rivers in Bangladesh. Image: Thomson Reuters Foundation/Zakir Hossain Chowdhury

Manta community member Ratna Akter and her son on the boat that serves as their home on the Meghna river, in southeast Bangladesh.

Manta community member Ratna Akter and her son, who once nearly drowned in the river during heavy rains. Image: Thomson Reuters Foundation/Zakir Hossain Chowdhury

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A Manta family eats their evening meal on the boat they live on, floating on the Meghna river, in Lakshmipur District, Bangladesh.

A Manta family eats their evening meal on the boat they live on. Image: Thomson Reuters Foundation/Zakir Hossain Chowdhury

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