Photo: BSS

TANGAIL, July 20, 2026 (BSS) – Driven by a desire to provide his cancer-stricken mother with safe, chemical-free pomegranates, Alamin of Basail upazila transformed a personal mission into a thriving rooftop farming venture, emerging as a successful entrepreneur and an inspiration to many.

After doctors advised his mother, Lovely Begum, to eat pomegranates during her cancer treatment, Alamin became concerned about the safety of fruits available in local markets, which he believed were often treated with preservatives. Unable to afford the high market price of pomegranates, he left his garment factory job and started growing a few pomegranate plants on the rooftop of his home as a hobby.

Although his mother passed away in May 2025 before she could enjoy the fruits from his own garden, Alamin continued expanding the project in her memory. Today, his rooftop orchard has become a model of successful urban agriculture.

Alamin currently cultivates 60 mature pomegranate trees of 26 varieties in plastic drums on his rooftop. The collection includes India's Super Bhagwa, Mridula and Gujarati varieties, Thailand's Thai pomegranate, Australia's Big Thai and Rimon, as well as Mexican and Pakistani varieties. The trees produce fruit twice a year during the monsoon and winter seasons.

By selling fresh pomegranates and grafted saplings, Alamin now earns around Taka 10 lakh annually after expenses.

A visit to his rooftop garden in Patkhaguri village under Habla union reveals branches bending under the weight of pinkish-red pomegranates, alongside bright red blossoms that create a striking contrast with the lush green foliage. Each tree bears around 25 to 30 fruits, transforming the rooftop into a vibrant display of red and green.

Local residents say Alamin's success has encouraged many people to take up pomegranate cultivation, creating new income opportunities while promoting commercial fruit farming in the area.

Mizanur Rahman, a local resident, said he has cultivated fruits such as oranges, maltas and dragon fruit but had never succeeded with pomegranates. Inspired by Alamin's achievement, he now plans to purchase saplings and establish his own rooftop orchard.

College student Tania Akter, who visited the garden, said she had never imagined such high-quality pomegranates could be grown on a rooftop in Bangladesh. She expressed interest in seeking Alamin's guidance to start a rooftop garden at her own home.

Recalling the difficult period in 2023, Alamin said his mother was diagnosed with cancer while he was working in the garment sector. Doctors recommended pomegranates as part of her diet, but market prices ranged between Taka 500 and Taka 600 per fruit, making them difficult for him to afford.

"I first planted pomegranate saplings in our yard and later decided to establish a rooftop garden after watching instructional videos on YouTube," he said.

He later purchased several saplings from Tongi in Gazipur and planted them in plastic drums on the rooftop. Encouraged by the first successful harvest, he gradually collected more varieties and expanded the garden through regular care, timely fertiliser application and proper irrigation.

Alamin said his mother's death, just a week after he left his job in May 2025, strengthened rather than weakened his determination.

He now has around 2,000 pomegranate saplings on his rooftop and surrounding land. The grafted saplings are sold across Bangladesh at prices ranging from Taka 200 to Taka 2,000. Besides pomegranates, he also grows grapes, oranges and maltas on his rooftop.

Alamin markets both fruits and saplings through his Facebook page and provides technical guidance to customers interested in rooftop gardening.

Muhammad Abu Elias Talukdar, Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of Basail Upazila, described Alamin as one of the area's successful young agricultural entrepreneurs.

"He has established an impressive rooftop pomegranate garden, and his grafted saplings are now reaching different parts of the country. The Department of Agricultural Extension is providing him with regular technical advice and necessary support," he said.

He added that Alamin's journey demonstrates how careful planning, hard work and modern agricultural practices can create profitable farming enterprises in Bangladesh while inspiring more young people to pursue agriculture and rooftop gardening.