Flower growers in Gadkhali, long known as the country’s flower hub, say they are waiting for the new government to fulfil BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s pledge to open export markets for their produce and modernise the area’s defunct railway station.
The demand comes days after the 13th parliamentary election, which ended two years of political uncertainty and returned BNP to power.
During an election rally in Jashore on 2 February, Tarique Rahman said flowers from Jashore would be exported like garments if his party formed the government.
That promise has raised expectations among farmers in Gadkhali and neighbouring Panisara under Jhikargacha Upazila, where at least 4,000 people depend directly and indirectly on floriculture for their livelihoods.
Nur Alam, a flower grower from Panisara village, said the sector had struggled in recent years amid political unrest and falling demand.
“We are simple farmers. We grow flowers and sell them to feed our families. This time we voted, and we hope the new government will look after our interests,” he said.
Around 630 hectares of land have been brought under flower cultivation in the area this year, producing a range of seasonal blooms. Growers said sales have not met expectations despite peak demand periods such as spring festivals and Valentine’s Day.
Traders said demand has weakened since the July 24 mass uprising and subsequent instability, disrupting what is usually a five-month high-sales season that sustains farmers for the rest of the year.
Gadkhali supplies roughly 70 per cent of the country’s flower demand, industry representatives said, although that share has declined as commercial flower farming expands in other regions.
Abu Zafar, General Secretary of the Gadkhali Flower Traders’ Association, said poor transport infrastructure remains the biggest obstacle.
“About 90 villages in Gadkhali and Panisara depend on flower farming. Production has increased over time, but without reliable transport we cannot sell at the expected price,” he said.
Rail links to Gadkhali date back to the British period, when a small station played a key role in moving agricultural goods. However, operations effectively ceased in the mid-1980s, and although trains still pass through, there are no freight facilities or modern infrastructure.
Farmers now rely on trucks and covered vans to transport flowers to Dhaka and other cities. Long road journeys and traffic congestion often damage the perishable produce, reducing quality and forcing growers to sell at lower prices.
Abu Zafar said reopening Gadkhali railway station with modern facilities could cut transport costs by more than half and ensure fresh flowers reach wholesale markets within hours. He also called for refrigerated rail coaches to help maintain export-quality standards.
Association President Abul Khayer said sales targets set for the spring and language day period were not achieved and warned that upcoming Ramadan could further dampen demand.
“If farmers incur heavy losses, they will struggle to prepare for the next season. Incentives from the new government would help reduce that risk,” he said.
Growers and traders also sought low-interest loans, cold storage facilities, easier access to imported flower seeds and formal export channels.
Local residents have additionally urged the government to develop Gadkhali as an agro-tourism destination, citing the thousands of visitors who travel each year to see its flower fields despite limited infrastructure.
For now, farmers say they are waiting to see whether the government will translate campaign pledges into policy, hoping that export access and improved rail connectivity will revive the fortunes of what they call the country’s “flower capital.”
