The ongoing National Tree Fair has continued to attract a large number of visitors every day.
The month-long fair, which began on July 18 at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city, has also witnessed increasing sales of saplings, according to the organisers and stall owners.
During a visit to the fair on Friday, this FE correspondent saw a number of visitors buying saplings of various species.
According to the organisers, a total of 10,76,768 saplings of different varieties worth over Tk 50 million were sold at the fair as of August 8. The fair will conclude on August 16.
Saplings worth around Tk 60 million were sold in 2016 and 2017 fairs each while the sales in the 2015 fair stood at around Tk 30 million, the statistics showed.
This year, a total of 100 stalls have showcased various types of saplings -- from fruits to flowers -- which are drawing a large number of tree lovers.
Abdullah Al Masud, 46, an employee of a private university, told the FE that he brought his entire family to the fair to enjoy the green environment.
He said he bought some ornamental plants to enhance the beauty of his house.
Masud, 50, an owner of a nursery, came from Rangpur to visit the fair.
He said he visits the tree fair every year and collects rare plants which are not available in his district.
"It is my hobby to collect different types of plants, especially medicinal plants," he said.
Dipak Kumar Nath, proprietor of DC Nursery & Services and a participant of the fair, told the FE that the visitors mostly like to buy ornamental and medicinal plants.
He said city dwellers can come to the fair to enjoy clean air, as such mega collection of trees cannot be seen in any other place of the capital.
Jamal Hossain Talukder, assistant conservator of forest, said more visitors thronged the fair on Friday as it is a weekly holiday.
The sale volume of the saplings has also increased, compared to any weekdays, he added.
The Department of Forest (DoF) has organised the fair.
Apart from private organisations and universities, state-run organisations like Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC), Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), and Department of Livestock Services (DLS) took part in the fair.
