In Chattogram city, flowers mean Cheragi Pahar. Sixty-two shops line the stretch from there to Momin Road, and about 450 more florists trade across the city, from Agrabad, Chawkbazar and Probartak Mor to GEC Mor, Bahaddarhat, Oxygen Mor and the head of Kaptai Road. Flowers for weddings, birthdays and state events alike come from here.
Traders say roses come from more than a hundred gardens in Baraitali union of Chakaria upazila, Cox's Bazar. Gladiolus, gypsophila and chrysanthemums come from Charkhagaria village in Satkania. Most marigolds come from Jashore, and other varieties from Chuadanga, Satkhira and Rangpur.
Roses were once the best sellers; now sunflowers, gerberas, carnations, orchids and lilies are in growing demand. A sunflower stem sells for Tk 200 to 300, a rose for Tk 15 to 30, a China rose for Tk 130 to 150, a gerbera for Tk 30 to 60, a carnation for Tk 50 to 80, a tuberose for Tk 20 to 30, an orchid for Tk 200 to 400 and a lily for Tk 350 to 500. A marigold garland costs Tk 30 to 40, local gladiolus Tk 20 to 30, and a bundle of Chinese gypsophila Tk 3,000.
Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays bring more buyers, and the wedding season multiplies the work. Mohammad Jasim, general secretary of the Chattogram flower traders' unity council, said demand rises several times over for Valentine's Day, Pahela Falgun and Pahela Baishakh. Decorating a wedding car with local flowers starts at Tk 2,500, he said, and with premium or imported flowers can cost Tk 25,000 to 30,000.
Plastic flowers and imported ornamental blooms are a new challenge, traders say, and their growing presence is squeezing the market for local flowers.
Waste is high too. Marigolds, gajra garlands and chrysanthemums spoil fastest; sprinkled with water they last five days at most, after which unsold flowers are thrown out. At night poor people pick through the heaps on the street for the better blooms, and the rest goes to the bins.
Photo: Shakibul Alam Risvy / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: Banglanews24
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