In the heart of Basail upazila, Tangail, Alamin's rooftop garden stands as a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Initially driven by a desire to provide his cancer-stricken mother with safe, chemical-free pomegranates, Alamin's journey has blossomed into a thriving rooftop farming venture. Today, he cultivates 60 mature pomegranate trees of 26 varieties, producing fruit twice a year and earning around Taka 10 lakh annually.
The inspiration for this venture came when doctors advised Alamin's mother, Lovely Begum, to eat pomegranates during her cancer treatment. Concerned about the safety of fruits available in local markets, Alamin left his garment factory job to start growing pomegranates on his rooftop. Although his mother passed away before she could enjoy the fruits from his garden, Alamin continued expanding the project in her memory.
Alamin's rooftop orchard now includes a diverse collection of pomegranate varieties from India, Thailand, Australia, Mexico, and Pakistan. Each tree bears around 25 to 30 fruits, transforming the rooftop into a vibrant display of red and green. His success has inspired many local residents to take up pomegranate cultivation, creating new income opportunities and promoting commercial fruit farming in the area.
Local resident Mizanur Rahman, who had previously struggled with pomegranate cultivation, is now planning to purchase saplings and establish his own rooftop orchard, inspired by Alamin's achievement. College student Tania Akter, after visiting the garden, expressed interest in seeking Alamin's guidance to start a rooftop garden at her own home.
Alamin markets both fruits and saplings through his Facebook page and provides technical guidance to customers interested in rooftop gardening. Muhammad Abu Elias Talukdar, Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of Basail Upazila, described Alamin as one of the area's successful young agricultural entrepreneurs, highlighting how careful planning, hard work, and modern agricultural practices can create profitable farming enterprises in Bangladesh.
