Photo: BSS

KHULNA, July 22, 2026 (BSS) - The ongoing tree fair at the Khulna Circuit House Maidan, beside the tennis ground, is showcasing a diverse collection of plants, including fruit, flower and medicinal varieties.

The month-long fair, inaugurated on July 11, aims to promote tree planting and environmental awareness among the younger generation.

Visitors can find a wide variety of fruit trees, flowering plants and medicinal herbs at the fair. The event also highlights the importance of tree planting for building a greener and more sustainable Bangladesh.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam inaugurated the fair on July 11. It will continue throughout July and August.

This year's theme is "Brikkho Ropone Sajay Desh, Sobar Age Bangladesh."

Md Zakir Hossain, the duty officer at the fair's control room, told BSS that the tree fair, which attracts nature enthusiasts, has been held annually in Khulna for about a decade.

According to the fair's control room, this year's event has 62 participating organisations, one more than last year, including 10 government agencies.

The fair is open daily from 9am to 9pm, and entry is free. It has already recorded significant sales of saplings.
As of Tuesday, a total of 21,237 saplings worth approximately Tk 3,007,110 had been sold.
Fruit and flowering plant saplings are enjoying particularly high demand, reflecting growing public interest in gardening and landscaping.

Despite intermittent rain, a large number of plant lovers continue to visit the fair every day. Organisers and sellers expect sales to surpass last year's figures.

The fair offers a vibrant, garden-like atmosphere, with a wide variety of plants displayed neatly at stalls and across the open grounds. It provides an opportunity for gardening enthusiasts to explore and purchase plants for their homes and gardens.

Visitors are greeted by colourful displays of fruits, including red, yellow and green mangoes, as well as local varieties such as jackfruit, Indian gooseberry and carandas hanging from tree branches throughout the fairgrounds.

Strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) saplings are also proving highly popular among fruit tree enthusiasts.

In addition to common rooftop gardening options, the fair features several lesser-known fruit varieties suitable for container gardening, including dwarf jackfruit, white jamun and black Bengal plum. These compact varieties are ideal for rooftop gardens and other limited spaces.

A Z M Hasanur Rahman, divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans West Forest Division, expressed optimism, saying, "We expect this year's fair to generate greater enthusiasm than last year."

Md Nizam Nursery has recorded the highest sapling sales so far. Monirul, a salesman at the nursery, said the stall offers around 15 varieties of guava saplings, along with Thai kadbel and Thai and batabi lemon saplings.

Talking to BSS, Md Nizam Sheikh, owner of the nursery, said the number of visitors and buyers would increase further if the weather remains favourable.

Md Faruk, owner of Safayet Garden, said many visitors this year are purchasing fruit and ornamental plant saplings, including exotic varieties.

Talking to BSS, SM Badrul Alam Royal, president of the Khulna Nursery Owners Association, said, "A wide variety of native and exotic plants, including species suitable for rooftop gardens, are available. Buyers' response has been excellent from the beginning. The Forest Department and the district administration are regularly monitoring the fair."

He added, "To build a greener Bangladesh and strengthen young people's connection with nature, everyone should visit the tree fair and develop a love for plants."

Sakib, a salesman at Abdul Karim Nursery, said saplings are selling well overall, with mango, strawberry guava and guava recording the highest demand.

The fair also features a wide range of native and exotic fruit trees, including persimmon, various varieties of guava and mango, sapodilla, olive, lemon, pomelo, custard apple, black plum, cashew, carandas, rose apple, Indian gooseberry, grapes, jujube and wild olive.

Among the exotic fruits on display are avocado, persimmon, rambutan, longan and durian. Some stalls are also offering coconut saplings imported from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Kerala, India.

Visitor Kazi Shamim Ahmed from the city's Gallamari area said, "The prices of saplings are quite reasonable this year."

Spice plant saplings such as cardamom, betel leaf, black pepper, cinnamon and bay leaf are also available. A seller at Green Globe Nursery said the betel vine does not produce flowers, an interesting fact that attracts buyers.

The flower section deserves special mention for its dazzling display of roses, hibiscus, jasmine, champak, Arabian jasmine, night-flowering jasmine, pinwheel flower, ixora, bougainvillea, oleander, madhabilata and many other flowering plants, creating a vibrant atmosphere for visitors.

Ali Abrar and Sithi Islam, a couple from the city's No. 1 Nirala area, told BSS, "We are passionate about plants. We start every day by taking care of them. Today, we bought both common and rare varieties of fruit and ornamental saplings."