DASHMINA, PATUAKHALI, May 22: In the remote char areas between the Tentulia and Buragouranga rivers in Dasmina Upazila, life moves not by clocks or calendars-but by the rhythm of tides. Here, thousands of buffaloes graze freely across vast grasslands, while their herders lead a nomadic existence shaped entirely by the ebb and flow of the rivers.
Field visits reveal herders tending buffaloes under the open sky, while makeshift shelters made of bamboo, wood, tin, polythene and tarpaulin line the sandy riverbanks. These temporary homes serve as both living quarters and operational bases for their livestock-based livelihood.
Char Hadi herder Abul Bashar said, life in the char does not follow day and night. "Everything depends on the tide. During high tide, buffaloes move to higher grasslands, and in extreme heat they enter the river to cool their bodies while keeping their heads above water," he said.
Another herder from Lalchar, Shahjahan, said storms, tidal surges and cyclones frequently hit the area, making life even more difficult.
Officials and locals said that during full moon and new moon periods, river water often crosses danger levels. Without embankments, these chars remain highly vulnerable to flooding, storms and erosion. During the monsoon season, grazing land is submerged, making buffalo rearing impossible.
Despite harsh conditions, herders continue their work, which includes milking buffaloes, transporting milk to buyers by boat, grazing animals during the day and guarding herds at night. Many spend nights in small boat shelters or temporary huts, often staying awake to protect livestock from theft.
Herders said each person manages around 30 to 50 buffaloes and can easily identify their own animals even within large herds.
Buffalo owners Khalil Sikder and Rubel said the animals are brought to the char during the dry season due to lack of grazing land in villages. Buffaloes are raised here for around five to six months annually. Each herder earns between Tk 21,000 and Tk 25,000 per month, along with food and basic living costs.
A milking buffalo produces around three to five litres of milk per day, which sells at Tk 100 to Tk 150 per litre.
Dasmina Upazila Livestock Officer Shubhendu Sarkar said limited manpower is being supported by a trained AI technician who provides primary veterinary care in the char areas.
Human rights representatives have urged authorities to ensure medical services, vaccination, safe shelter and clean drinking water for herders living in these vulnerable regions.
