Kushtia, Sept. 5 -- After months of shrinking water and exposed sandbars, the Padma River in Daulatpur has begun to look like itself again.

With the arrival of fresh water from upstream at the beginning of autumn, the river has reclaimed much of its old breadth. Silver waves now ripple across stretches that had remained dry for months, breathing new life into the riverbanks - and drawing people in search of a little respite from their busy lives.

On Friday afternoon, the riverbank at Abeder Ghat in Philipnagar was bustling with visitors.

Families, couples, young people and children began arriving as the afternoon wore on, turning the otherwise quiet riverside into a makeshift recreational spot.

The rise in water levels has brought bac...