Photo: Collage

By S M Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, May 21, 2026 (BSS)- In the first week of Bangla month of Jyestha, popularly known as ‘Modhumash’, the juicy fruit mango and litchi have flooded the local markets.

The fruit shops of Khulna are now brimming with delicious summer fruits especially Satkhira variety of mango and Jashore, Kustia and Meherpur variety of litchi. 

The price of litchis and mangoes is within the grasp of customers amid bumper production with high demand in the Khulna city markets.

During a visit to several fruit retailers in the city, this correspondent found that different varieties of mangoes like Gopalvog are being sold at Taka 80 to Taka 100, Gobindavog at Taka 90 to Taka 120, whereas “Himsagar” variety of Satkhira are selling at Taka 100 to Taka 130 per kg.
 
People are seen purchasing mangoes and litchis from fruit shops and different makeshift markets in the city.

Talking to BSS, fruit sellers of City’s Helatala and K D Ghosh Road said they used to sell these varieties of mangoes at Taka 100 to Taka 130 last year.

Meanwhile, different varieties of litchi, including “Bombai”, “Bedana”, and “China-3”, were seen selling at reasonable prices.

Seasonal traders set up makeshift shops at different points in the city especially Boro Bazar, Clay Road, KCC's Sandha Bazar (evening kitchen market) Dakbangla, Picture Palace intersection, MoylaPota intersection, West Makwat Road, Gallamari, Rupsha Bazar, Bhairab Stand Road, Kalibari Road, KD Ghosh Road, New Market area, Khalishpur and Daulatpur kitchen markets to sell mangoes and other seasonal fruits.

Fruits seller Mamun Mia at KCC’s kitchen market (Sandha Bazar) told BSS that Satkhira’s mango especially Gopalvog, Gobindavog and Himsagar are being sold at Taka 80-110,Taka 100-120 and Taka 110-120 per kg respectively. 

He said litchi mostly from Meherpur, Kustia and Jashore is appearing every day at the kitchen markets as well as the fruit shops.

Every bunch of 100 Bombai Litchis is being sold from Taka 350 to Taka 400, Bedana variety at Taka 400 to Taka 500, and China-3 at Taka 350 to Taka 420 based on quality and size, he said.

The sellers said the price is reasonable although the supply is stable. Price is expected to reduce to some extent when the supply will be increased within the next couple of days.

Rashedul Islam, a trader in the City’s Clay Road, said many farmers are harvesting immature litchi with the hope of getting more money.

Mahfuz Ahmed, an officer of Sonali Bank Corporate Branch, also a customer, expressed his satisfaction with the mango and litchi prices.

The customers demanded the relevant authorities to monitor and take proper measures if traders are found using harmful chemicals, such as formalin, to keep fruits from rotting.

As seasonal fruits have started hitting the market, customers are expecting to get formalin-free fruits. 

Customers emphasised regular monitoring of the Taskforce and mobile team to encourage sellers to sell chemical-free fruits.
 
Khulna, one of Bangladesh's emerging mango-producing regions, is on track for a record-breaking season with an expected harvest worth Taka 1500 crore, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Khulna region.

DAE officials said, around 1,17,530 tonnes of mangoes in 8,190 hectares of land, with an average of 14.17 tonnes per hectare in Satkhira, Narail, Bagerhat and Khulna district, are expected to be produced during the season.