A month-long flower festival started in Chattogram on Saturday. It is taking place at the green and water-filled Faujdarhat DC Park in the port city. The park has been decorated aesthetically with flowers of a whole range of shapes, sizes and colours across an area of 196 acres. It is the largest flower festival in Bangladesh. Once a den of criminals and drug abusers, the area was also used for dumping of waste. Some land-grabbers also set up illegal establishments in the area. They conducted unlawful business in disguise of a picnic spot for many years.
Finally, the local administration took over the spot and demolished illegal structures. The administration also took the initiative to transform the land into the largest flower garden in the country. Organising a flower festival here lends support to the love for flowers.
Visitors will find 136 species of domestic and foreign flowers at the festival. More than 100,000 flowers are now on display at the month-long festival. There is a special shed for exotic tulips there.
The tulip buds are opening their eyes. Red, yellow, pink and white tulips are making their presence felt along with red-yellow tulips. Apart from this, flowers like Lilium, Kalanchoe, Dahlia, Sunflower, Bougainvillea, Camellia, Rhododendron and Rangan are adorning the DC Park.
Flower farming is growing across the country. It has also become a hobby for many people. A large number of people plant and display flowers on rooftops, verandas, and even corners of houses. Commercial farming of flowers also generates income for many. During many national, local and social events, flowers make the arrangement complete. Demand for flowers surges during the International Mother Language Day, he Independence Day, the Victory Day and the Valentine's Day. Be it a wedding reception or a birthday party, people like to use flowers for decoration. Youths also gift flowers to their loved ones. Let the festival take place all across the country.
Bithi Mahmuda
Cox'x Bazar