A four-day 'One Bank Flower Fair-2018' began in the city on Friday in a bid to meet the gradually increasing demand of the flower-loving people.
Rajshahi Boikali Sangha (RBS) and One Bank Limited jointly organised the fair at Moni Bazar premises in the metropolis.
Different nursery owners of the city have set up more than 16 stalls that are displaying a wide range of blossoms.
The fragrance of different types of roses, marigolds, gerberas, orchids, lilies, tulips, daffodils, petunias, sunflowers, morning glories, poppies, gardenia, gougainvillea, snapdragons, dahlia, nasturtium, begonia, evening primrose, clematis, knight queen, daisies, chrysanthemums, winter flowers, bleeding hearts, cosmos, hollyhock and many others wafting through the air has been attracting throngs of people to the fair.
Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Sarder Tamij Uddin Ahmed and Chairman of Rajshahi Education Board Professor Abul Kalam Azad addressed the inaugural session as the chief and special guest respectively with RBS President AYM Moniruzzaman in the chair.
Managing Director of One Bank Limited Fakhrul Islam and its Senior Assistant Vice-President and Branch Manager Abdul Mannan, RBS General Secretary Roisuddin Babu and Fair Convener Shariful Abedeen also spoke.
"Due to variation in climate, topography and vegetation, the region has a diversity of ornamental plants which need to be scientifically cultivated to promote export," said Abu Bakker Ali, former President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who visited the fair today.
Talking to BSS, he said various species of flowers grow in the region and measures should be taken to cultivate more so that flowers can be turned into an export-oriented industry.
"Flowers are the most beautiful gifts of nature and people of all ages love flowers, so farmers should be encouraged to promote flower farming," said Dr Md Khalequzzaman, a senior professor of Rajshahi University, adding that farmers need tuber resource center here from where they can collect and purchase flowers by easy means.
"Flower is a gift that cannot be measured with money and that's the beauty of it," said Rabiul Alam, a student of Rajshahi New Government Degree College who visited the fair this morning.
"We are selling different types of flowers at reasonable prices. The response has been good so far," said Shamim Hossain, a stall owner of the fair.
Side by side with the flower fair, competition of fine arts, literary and cultural activities are being arranged for the children for flourishing their latent talents.
According to BSS the fair will remain open from 9 am to 9 pm every day and the event will help creating a sound marketing opportunities of flowers, said the fair organisers.