23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Portrait of Survival

In Kalabogi, on the edge of the Sundarbans, a woman stands before her stilted home with a pitcher in hand. Behind her, the saltwater river is a constant reminder of loss and intrusion. For families here, rain is salvation—collected in vessels during the monsoon and stored carefully to serve as drinking water for the long dry season. Rising seas, tidal floods, and intensifying storms have made safe water increasingly scarce, forcing millions along Bangladesh’s coast to rely on the few pure drops they can preserve. In this fragile landscape, the vessel she carries is more than an object—it is endurance, resilience, and the very essence of survival.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2025
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Khulna, Bangladesh
Camera: NIKON Z 5
Copyright: © Md Bipul