Flowers of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is unique natural beauties and rivers. It stands second to none in variety and numerousness of fishes, vegetables, flowers and fruits. Nature has gifted her with rich bounties. Man's hand as in the west has done little to her beauty. Everywhere there is greenery. The verdure of trees, grass, shrubs and paddy fields pervades her. Rivers and rivulets flowing amidst green landscape enhance its charms. Again nature is lavish in diversifying our motherland with woods and forests in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sundarbans, and Madhpurgar etc. In grace, from, fragrance and variety of colours, flowers are the splendor of nature. They diversify the greenness of Bangladesh with a special beauty and charm and a variety of handsome shape, hue, smell and delicacy.

There are about 40 species of flowers apart from countless wild flowers that grow and die unnamed in our forests, bushes and on waters. Multicolored flowers are seen in the same plant. Again the very same flower bears various colours. Once more some blossoms change their hue with light and darkness. Special mention may be made of sweet smelling gandharaz, hasnahena, beli kamini, shefali-shapa and rajani gandha. Hasnahena, sends out smell whole night, kamini in the evening and shefali early in morning. However, some flowers, for instance, batabi, bel and blooming mangoes give off scent. Even wild flowers emit some smell. Most of the flagrant flowers are generally white and blossom at night. But they are not as beautiful as flagrant. Simul, palash, krisna chura and some rose, are some of the deeplyred flowers. A red flowered simul tree can make beautiful a whole forest, a krishna chira, gada, surjamukhi, kanak chapa, sandha malati, bakul, shewli, padya, togor, kadam, aparjita, ketuki, kaya, rashy, kalabati rangan, madhubi, bagan bilash, hizla and rose chapa of diverse colors are other diversities. A yellow sarsa field variegates the long stretched greens of fields after fields, white shaplas blooming on bills of haors make the water panorama very attractive. There are more than a hundred species of rose. Famous are the critian daw and platinum. Rose is unique in having may sorts of rose marked with the name " lady", like Lady Elgin, Lady Sylvia Water Loo, Lady Curzon, Ladydy Sonia and my Lady. However Loves beauty, rose is his greatest attraction. For its hues and scent it is unparalleled among flowers, The Greeks raised it to a position of great worth. Their woman poet, Saffo called it the queen of flowers. The Garden for rose was Roman's first garden. Thereafter rose got its deep appreciation from kings and emperors.

" A thing of beauty is a joy forever" John Keats. Flower being so gives etemally great gladness. It pleases us and refreshes our yeas and mind. It pervades the entire surroundings with sweet smekk, Beauty is co-eval with purity. Flower strikes our soul with a heavenly light. It transports us to an unknown enraptured haven. English poet William Blake, " see heaven in a wild flower". Besides, the ecstasy, its use is multifarious. Shapla shalak in ancient Egypt was used as insignia of royal power. Tulip, the national flowers of Netherlands is the symbol of bravery, rose for the Americans, crisenthimum is Japanese dearest flower representing prosperity. Flower as a metaphor for woman, not to speak of analogy was being used by some poets. Decoration of woman with flowers creepers and herbs has been the custom, Shkuntala and Anushia are examples. Now-a-day it has become very dear to woman to decorate there buns with rose, their neck and hairs with beli etc. As spring is the most productive time of flowers, the best time for inflorescence is that season. Garlands, bouquets, crown of flowers, and flower baskets are all part of inflorescence which got the honour of skilled art long ago. But lkebana that entered into Japanese culture in the sixth century is acknowledged worldwide as classic artistry. Though other modes po, ohara, etc. are popular. Ikebana made by chinese Buddhists as ingredients for worshipping Buddhya enjoys world's special respect. Blossom is given to relatives, friends as expression of love, thanks, good wishes, respect and congratulation, Bride and bridegroom exchange garland of flowers. Flowers are used to embellish nuptial cars, bridalbeds, gates and building, Vases of office and drawing room are, to date, in use. Blossoms were used in the past for religious purpose as it is still to-day scattering of flowers and placing a bouquet of flowers on coffin, grave, a memorial to the dead and on the alter. For worship of goddess kali, red jaba and gada are indispenable. Flowers give us not only natural smell, costly essence is also produced from fragrant flowers. Nurjahan, The Moghul empress made first Ater by pounding rose, though other scented blossoms too yield Atar.

What has been a thing of pleasure, beauty, osour, decoration, emblem and insignia, now has become an additional source of income, employment and of earning foreign currencies. This fact has led to much greater enthusiasm and drive for flower cultivation and gardening. Never was produced so much flower on so much extensive soil and so such commercial basis as now, 90 villages of Jhikargacha and Sharsha alone produce, for instance, on about four thousand bighas of land flowers worth about Tk 4 crore. In other areas such as Jessore, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Satkhira & Chandpur, blossoms are grown-rajanigandha and gada being the largest number of products. The cultivation of rose and gladiolas is increasing. According to a reliable souce, rose, chandramallika, snowball dulanchapa, gypsy, oster are produced commercially in Savar, Dhamrai, Nabinagor, Rajson and in the Nowab Bug Area of Mirpur, Narshindi supplied shapla, diamond and grass flower and Narayanganj, China beli and wood beli. There is a remarkable increase in selling center and places in keeping with large scale production, in Dhaka flowers were sold at Shakhari Bazar and High Court Mazar area, Now of the many places or centres Shahbag as well as its adjajent area is the biggest flower selling center. Now in Amost all the towns across the country flowers are on sale. Flower melas or exhibition were also held during the rule of kings and emperors. We also arrange them every year in the metropolis, even in other cities and towns.

Bangladesh Krishi Bank has started providing loan to flower growers to the extent to Tk. 50,000. More and more credit facilities should be made available. Govt must also find overseas markets for our flowers, rose beli and rajanigandha. There is also a need for setting up research and counsellings centers. Such steps will help invigorating and developing our economy.