Himu's Window

Trades of Binodpur Bazar near Rajshahi University are at a loss after their shops were burnt to the ground on Saturday and they have no way of getting compensation. "I have not been able to sleep a wink since the night my store was destroyed in the arson attack," said 52-year-old Zahangir Alam, whose store was among those burned down in the clash near the Rajshahi University campus on Saturday. Alam his brother Zafar Ali used to run their business but since his brother's death in May last year, Zahangir was forced to become the lone breadwinner for an extended family of 14. Over 220 people were injured after students of Rajshahi University fought running battles with locals and police in Binodpur area near the campus on Saturday evening over trifles. Zahangir suffered a loss of Tk 7 lakh including Tk 3.5 lakh in cash from his mobile banking business that he operated from the store, which was burnt and looted during the arson attack. "I had to watch as the attackers d

A woman works at a strawberry field in Rajshahi. Growers and traders of the fruit are expecting a Tk10 crore annual turnover, as they launch its commercial cultivation this year. Photo: STAR Strawberry growers and traders in Bangladesh are expecting Tk 10 crore in annual turnover, as they go into its first-ever commercial cultivation this year.  Rajshahi University teacher Dr Manzur Hossain, who developed the fruit nearly a decade ago, expects nearly 25 tonnes of output from about 8.5 acres of land in 45 districts until April.  Growers claim the cultivation of this money-spinning, nutritious, delicious foreign fruit will spin nearly Tk 10 crore worth of trade a year.  “The initial commercial production will meet 50 percent of the gross annual demand for the fruit. At present, the demand for the fruit stands at 50 tonnes,” said Hossain, also the general secretary of Bangladesh Strawberry Farmers Association, which monitors the fruit's cultivation in the country.  Production will con

View of a strawberry garden in Rajshahi.Photo: STAR The Quantum Foundation authorities in Rajshahi bought over 1,000 strawberry plants for Tk 20,000 a month ago. They spent a further Tk 13,000 cultivating a fallow eight decimal pieces of land in Shitlai Kazipur area. They are now waiting to cash nearly Tk 2 lakh, six times the amount they invested, by selling 250kg of the lip-smacking fruit, in just 10 days. “Strawberry cultivation is relatively new in the country, but it is not difficult. It spins money," said Muzahidul Islam Zahid, an official of the foundation. "For the first time I have cultivated the fruit." Major Hafizur Rahman Mollah, deputy inspector general of prisons for the Rajshahi division, cultivated some 2,500 strawberry plants at the Rajshahi Central Jail property, six months ago. The jail authorities have spent over Tk 50,000 on the cultivation and now sell 1,000 saplings for Tk 70,000. Also, they are set to sell around 600kg of the fruit at an expected