The wholesale banana market at Dashmail in Kaharole upazila of Dinajpur district has emerged as the largest banana trading hub in northern Bangladesh. Raw bananas worth around Taka one crore are sold daily at this market, which supplies Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Hundreds of trucks transport bananas from Dashmail to various destinations, creating employment for several hundred workers engaged in loading and unloading the produce. The market operates daily, drawing traders from across the country who transport bananas by trucks and other vehicles.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Md Afzal Hossain noted the huge inflow of bananas and the large number of wholesalers visiting the market daily. He highlighted that suitable land for banana cultivation is available in Kaharole and neighbouring upazilas, encouraging farmers to expand their banana cultivation.
Kaharole Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Hafizur Rahman reported that banana cultivation has increased from 335 hectares last year to 542 hectares this season. Farmers are receiving good prices for their produce, leading to a bumper yield and increased interest in banana farming.
Banana growers like Nurul Islam Laizu and Abdul Ahad from Gurunurpur village in Kaharole have seen significant profits. Laizu sold 100 banana bunches for Taka 82,000 and expects to earn over Taka 200,000, while Ahad sold each bunch for Taka 690 and anticipates earnings of over Taka 4,50,000.
Md Niamul Islam, a banana trader from Dhaka, purchases three to four truckloads of raw bananas daily from Dashmail and sends them to Dhaka. Workers at the market, like Md Shohen Ali, earn between Taka 1,000 and Taka 1,200 a day by loading trucks.
Additional Director of the DAE’s Dinajpur regional office Md Riaz Uddin emphasized the profitability of bananas and the growing interest in cultivating improved varieties. The agricultural department provides farmers with technical assistance to ensure better production and satisfactory prices.
