Photo: BSS

KHULNA, July 13, 2025 (BSS) - The ongoing tree fair at Khulna Circuit House 
field, beside the tennis ground, is showcasing a diverse array of plants, 
including fruit, flower, and medicinal varieties. 

The 21-day long fair, which was inaugurated here on July 7, aims to promote 
tree planting and environmental awareness among the younger generation. 

Visitors can find various fruit trees, flowering plants, and medicinal herbs 
at the fair. The event also highlights the importance of tree plantation for 
a green and sustainable Bangladesh.

Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md. Firoz Sarkar inaugurated the fair which 
will continue throughout the month "July".

GM Robiul Islam, on duty officer at the fair's control room, said the tree 
fair that attracts nature enthusiasts has been held here annually for about a 
decade.

According to the control room of the fair, this year's fair has a total of 61 
participating organizations, with 10 of them being government agencies.

The fair is open daily from 9am to 10pm, and there is no entry fee. It has 
already sold a significant number of saplings. As of Sunday, 6,089 saplings 
worth approximately Taka 9.30 lakh had been sold.
 
In the fair, fruit and flower saplings are indeed experiencing high sales, 
indicating a strong interest in gardening and landscaping. A large number of 
plant lovers still visit the fair everyday despite the rain. This year, the 
organizers and sellers are expecting even greater sales than last year.

The plant fair creates a vibrant, garden-like ambiance with a wide variety of 
plants displayed neatly in stalls and across the open area. It's a space 
where plant enthusiasts can explore and acquire new additions for their own 
gardens.

Visitors have seen a vibrant display of colorful fruits-- red, yellow, and 
green mangoes, along with local varieties like jackfruit, Indian gooseberry, 
and carandas-- hanging from branches in the fair premises.

In addition to more common rooftop garden choices, there are several lesser-
known fruit varieties that can thrive in a rooftop setting, including dwarf 
jackfruit, white jamun, and black Bengal plum (also known as black plum or 
Indian plum). These varieties are often more compact and suitable for 
container gardening, making them ideal for limited spaces like rooftop.

Md. Fazlul Haque, forest ranger of the Sundarbans West Forest Division, 
expressed optimism, saying, "We expect this year's fair to generate more 
enthusiasm than last year."

Nizam Nursery leads in sapling sales so far. Abdullah, a salesman from the 
nursery, said their stall features around 15 varieties of guava saplings, and 
timber species like mahogany and shiris. 

Due to water-logging from rain, many timber plants couldn't be brought in, 
and city demand for such species remains low. Prices at their stall range 
from Taka 40,000 to Taka 25,000, including an Indian bamboo plant priced at 
Taka 8,000.

Talking to BSS, SM Badrol Alam Royal, president of the Khulna Nursery Owners 
Association, said, "A wide variety of native and foreign plants, including 
rooftop garden species, are available. Buyers' response has been great from 
the beginning. The forest department and district administration are 
regularly checking in with us."

He further said, "To build a greener Bangladesh and connect the youth with 
nature, people must visit the tree fair and build relationships with plants."

Altaf Hossain, proprietor of Noyontara Nursery, mentioned that saplings are 
selling well overall, with mango saplings seeing the highest demand.

The fair also showcases a vast range of native and exotic fruit trees, 
including Sapodilla, Monkey Jack, Langsat, Olive, Lemon, Pomelo, Custard 
Apple, Black Plum, Cashew, Carandas, Rose Apple, Indian gooseberry, Grapes, 
Jujube and Wild olives. 

Exotic fruits include Avocado, Persimmon, Rambutan, Longan, and Durian. Some 
stalls are even offering coconut saplings from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and 
Kerala, India.

Visitor Abdul Hamid of the city's Boyra area commented, "The sapling prices 
are quite reasonable this year."

Spice plant saplings like cardamom, piper, black pepper, cinnamon, and bay 
leaf are also available. A seller at Green Globe Nursery shared that the 
piper plant does not bear flowers, an interesting fact for buyers.

The flower section deserves special mention with a dazzling display of Roses, 
Hibiscus, Jasmine, Champak, Arabian Jasmine, Night Jasmine, Pinwheel, Ixora, 
Bougainvillea, Oleander, Frangipani, Madhabi Vines and many others creating a 
vibrant backdrop that lifts visitors' spirits.

A female visitor Parvin Akter of City's Nirala area said, "I'm crazy about 
plants. I start my day by tending to them. Today, I've purchased many known 
and unknown varieties of saplings."

At the Sundarbans stall run by the Mangrove Silviculture Division, species 
like Sundari, Khalshi, Kakra, Garjan, Dhundul, and Poshur are on display. 

There are also preserved specimens of tiger skulls and various fish native to 
the region, with informational leaflets provided for visitors in the fair 
premises.