In the midst of concrete urban life, a teacher from Bhaluka, Mymensingh, has brought the dream of a green sanctuary to life. Across a well-planned area of approximately 1,600 square feet on the rooftop of his four-story building, he has created a visually stunning rooftop garden. It features a diverse collection of domestic and exotic fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants.
Abdur Razzak Talukder, a resident of Ward No. 7 of Bhaluka Municipality and Headmaster of Bhawalia Bazar High School, developed this rooftop garden through long-term planning and dedicated effort. Currently, his garden houses around 26 varieties of fruit, vegetable, and medicinal plants.
The orchard boasts mango, litchi, jackfruit, guava, pomegranate, pomegranate seeds, grape, dragon fruit, malta, orange, all-season lemon, sapodilla, wax apple, papaya, banana, white jamun, sweet tamarind, hog plum, and various seasonal fruit trees. Alongside these, he cultivates vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, chili, coriander, okra, cucumber, mint, bottle gourd, and bitter gourd.
Through daily care, organic fertilizer use, and devoted attention, every corner of the roof is now lush with green. Beyond being a hobby, the garden helps meet a portion of his family's nutritional needs. Inspired by his initiative, neighbors and locals are also feeling encouraged to start their own rooftop gardens.
Headmaster Abdur Razzak Talukder stated, "Instead of leaving rooftop space unused, planting trees in a planned manner beautifies the environment while producing safe fruits and vegetables for the family. Anyone with regular maintenance habits and a bit of interest can create a garden like this on their rooftop."
According to locals, at a time when green spaces are rapidly shrinking due to urbanization, Abdur Razzak Talukder’s rooftop garden is undoubtedly an exemplary initiative. If such efforts spread further, green cover in urban areas will increase, inspiring people to produce safe food themselves.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Md. Mokshedur Rahman Mamun Bhaluka Upazila Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
