Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, Nov 30, 2025 (BSS) - Following the recession of floodwaters,
the northern rivers, including the Teesta, Dharla, Saniyajan, and
Brahmaputra, have transformed into desert-like areas.

However, the sandy lands have turned into sandy loam, triggering an
intense cultivation boom across the river chars of Northern
Bangladesh, fueling hopes for economic recovery.

The fertile river silt deposited on the Teesta char lands is highly
conducive to farming, allowing various crops to flourish, often
without the need for chemical fertilizers.

The Northern region encompasses approximately 786 chars across eight
districts. Agricultural officials have set a cultivation target of
36,911 hectares for these lands this season. The expected production
target is substantial, aiming for 362,000 metric tons of various
crops.

The successful harvest from the chars is seen by agricultural
officials as the key to the local char dwellers’ recovery, with one
season's crop often sustaining them for the entire year.

Agricultural officials project that the total crop output from the 786
chars in the northern region will generate an income of Taka 200
crore.

Cultivation is concentrated in districts including Lalmonirhat,
Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, and Nilphamari, specifically along the
Teesta River chars.

Field staffs from the Agriculture Department are actively supporting
farmers by providing both incentives and technical assistance.
Assistance has also been provided to farmers who suffered losses
during the recent floods.

Farmers are currently engaged in intensive labour, planting a wide
variety of crops. The key crops being cultivated include potato,
eggplant, chili, spring onion, ginger, garlic, bean, coriander,
carrot, cabbage or cauliflower, radish, gourd, wheat, sesame, mustard,
and maize.

Officials noted that the fertile silt ensures good yields, leading to
the expectation of bumper harvests for char farmers every year.

Talking to BSS, Hossain Mia of Ichli Char in Gangachara shared his
plans, noting he has cultivated potato on three bighas, eggplant on
three bighas, and coriander on 20 decimal points of land.

He anticipated earning a profit of Taka 1.5 lakh this season, after
deducting expenses, if the yield is good.

Other local farmers, including Habibur, Rahim, and Khairul, echoed
this optimism, estimating profits between Taka 60,000 to Taka 70,000
from their respective cultivated lands.

Despite the high fertility of the soil and the anticipated bumper
crops, farmers face significant hurdles that prevent them from
achieving desired profits.

Laskanitari Union Parishad Chairman Abdullah Al Hadi highlighted that
the Teesta char area has transformed into an agricultural zone, and
while many crops are now entering the market, farmers lack facilities
for product preservation, market supply, and processing.

A major challenge is the isolation created by poor communication
systems, which prevents farmers from easily transporting their produce
to the markets.

Chairman Al Hadi stated that the produce coming from the Teesta chars
requires two to three cold storage facilities, yet the region of
Gangachara currently possesses only one.

Dr. Tuhin Wadud, a professor at Begum Rokeya University who studies
the char areas, believed that although farmers regularly see bumper
yields, they do not receive fair prices due to the lack of adequate
communication infrastructure.

He suggested that dredging the Teesta and other rivers would allow
more char lands to surface, which would alleviate the financial
difficulties faced by the people of the North.