Even two years ago, the river Padma was about a few kilometers away from here. There were many houses a little further from here and then there were paddy and mastered fields on the horizon. It was so green all around that it would soothe one’s eyes. When it was harvesting time, it seemed that there was gold spreading all over the field. After harvesting the paddy, the farmers line up and carry the bunch of paddy on their heads to go home happily. However, all this is past today, there is no resemblance with the present. The ruthless and cruel Padma River has reached their backyards today due to erosion. The Padma River is as beautiful to look at as it is terrifying. Only those who have seen it, know of its terrible form.
The mighty Padma river destruction has come so close to their house that the sound of the river erosion can be clearly heard from inside their closed doors. There is not much furniture and belonging in the small family of these three, but they will complete packing whatever they have tonight because no one knows if this house will be submerged in the river by tomorrow morning. The little girl looks at her parents in surprise and tries to understand why her mother is just crying. These tears are not just ordinary ones, these tears are the bursts of losing the land at an unusual time. She has been in this house since her marriage and by this time she has considered it as her own and when this house is sinking in the river, her mind is shattering. Early in the morning, when they left home and found themselves standing in a distant field, their beloved cottage disappeared into the river in front of their eyes. This family left for an unknown destination with emptiness in their eyes.
The family has taken shelter temporarily in an abandoned house. The only working person in the family goes out to the Padma river every morning in a boat to catch fish. This is his only source of livelihood now. Today, like every day, he has gone out by boat to catch fish very early in the morning. While fishing, his eyes suddenly fell on an island in the distance. The island of this river has surged very recently. Even just a few days ago, he did not see any such place there. Suddenly there was a twinkle of joy in his eyes. He thought to himself that this is the place where he would build his new abode.
The man came back home with great joy in mind. He is still dreaming of building a new house. They don't have to stay at other people's houses, that will be their own home. But this simple-minded man may not know that it is not so easy to find a place even in the surged island. Even there, the common man lags far behind in the land grabbing competition. So maybe this man's dream will just remain a dream phase and may not take shape in reality. This is sad but true, this is what is happening in our society now.
