PHOTO: AZAHAR UDDIN

Once the lifeline of Rajshahi, the bountiful Padma is now severely depleted, with little water and shallow depth. Where it roared, silent sandbars now occupy its breadth, making travel difficult. This fall in water levels can be attributed to a combination of factors, including reduced flow from upstream, increased deposition of silt, and poor rainfall. The photo was taken yesterday from the I dam in Rajshahi city.