5 saplings grow into 50 plants; commercial expansion planned

 
Tarun Kanti, Thakurgaon:
 
A young entrepreneur has achieved success by cultivating passion fruit, known locally as Anarkali, in the soil of Thakurgaon, opening up new agricultural prospects in the region. Inspired by his success, several other young people in the area are showing interest in growing the fruit, which agriculture officials believe could create employment opportunities and help unemployed youths become self-reliant.
 
Rimun, a serviceman in the Bangladesh Army and a young entrepreneur from Mondoladam village in Ruhia upazila of Thakurgaon, began cultivating the exotic fruit on an experimental basis.
 
His orchard, established on 80 decimals of previously unused land around his home, now has around 50 plants. Encouraged by the good yield, he plans to expand cultivation commercially next year.
 
Passion fruit is known to many in Bangladesh as Anarkali or Tang fruit. Although it is cultivated in different parts of the country, including Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, its cultivation on the plains of Ruhia has generated fresh interest among local residents.
 
Rimun said he first saw and tasted the fruit during a visit to Cox's Bazar in 2025. Impressed by its sweet-and-sour flavour, he became interested in cultivating it himself.
 
In 2026, he collected five saplings of three different varieties from Cox's Bazar and planted them at home. Those five saplings have since grown into an orchard of around 50 plants.
 
"The plants have produced a good yield, and the fruit tastes excellent. Each plant can produce around 1,000 to 1,500 fruits," he said.
 
He noted that passion fruit is not yet widely available in Thakurgaon and other northern districts, although it has considerable demand in Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.
 
According to Rimun, each fruit could fetch Tk30-40, while the wholesale or retail market price could range from Tk700 to Tk800 per kilogram. Considering the yield and potential market value, he plans to expand cultivation on a larger area of land next year.
 
The orchard has already attracted considerable attention from local residents, many of whom are seeing passion fruit growing on trees for the first time. Some have also tasted the fruit and expressed interest in cultivating it themselves.
 
Advocate Saimum Parvez, a resident of the Ramnath Hat area, said he had seen and tasted the fruit for the first time and found it quite appealing. Inspired by Rimun's initiative, he is also considering planting a few saplings at his home.
 
Another local resident said it was encouraging to see a young person introducing a new fruit variety to the area. Unemployed youths could become economically self-reliant if they took an interest in agricultural entrepreneurship, the resident added.
 
Ruhia Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Nasirul Alam said passion fruit was generally found in the Chattogram and Cox's Bazar regions. He had learned that a young entrepreneur named Rimun had achieved a good yield in Mondoladam village.
 
"We will contact Rimun and visit his orchard. The upazila agriculture office will provide necessary technical advice and support to help expand cultivation of the fruit," he said.