File Photo

By S M Zahid Hossain 

KHULNA, May 8, 2025 (BSS) - With six days prior to the Bangla month of Jyestha, popularly known as "Modhumash", the juicy fruit mango and litchi have started appearing in the local markets, including Khulna City and its adjacent areas.

The fruit shops of Khulna are now brimming with delicious summer fruits especially Satkhira variety of mango and Jashore, Kustia and Meherpur variety of litchi. 

The price of litchis and mangoes is within the grasp of customers amid bumper production, with high demand in the Khulna city markets.

During a visit to several fruit retailers in the city on Wednesday, this correspondent found that different varieties of mangoes like “Gopalvog” are being sold at Taka 70 to Taka 80, “Gobindavog” at Taka 90 to Taka 100, whereas early “Himsagar” variety is being sold at Taka 110 to Taka 120 per kg. 

People are seen purchasing mangoes and litchis from fruit shops and different makeshift markets in the city.

Talking to BSS, fruit sellers said they used to sell these varieties of mangoes at Taka 110 to Taka 130 last year.

Meanwhile, different varieties of litchi, including “Bombai”, “Bedana”, and “China-3”, were seen selling at reasonable prices.

Seasonal traders set up makeshift shops at different points in the city especially Boro Bazar, Clay Road, KCC's Sandha Bazar (evening kitchen market) Dakbangla, Picture Palace intersection, Moyla Pota intersection, West Makwat Road, Gallamari, Rupsha Bazar, Bhairab Stand Road, Kalibari Road, KD Ghosh Road, New Market area, Khalishpur and Daulatpur kitchen markets to sell mangoes and other seasonal fruits.

Fruits seller Kazi Mohiuddin at KCC’s kitchen market (Sandha Bazar) told BSS that Satkhira’s mango especially “Gopalvog”, “Gobindavog” and “Himsagar” are being sold at Taka 70-80,Taka 90-100 and Taka 110-120 per kg respectively. 

He said litchi mostly from Meherpur, Kustia and Jashore is appearing every day at the kitchen markets as well as the fruit shops.

"Every bunch of 100 “Bombai” litchis is being sold from Taka 250 to Taka 340, “Bedana” from Taka 350 to Taka 400, and China-3 is being sold from Taka 250 to Taka 320 based on quality and size," he said.

The sellers said the price is slightly high as the supply is scanty, but the price will be reduced to some extent when the supply is enhanced within the next couple of days.

Alamgir Mia, a trader in the City’s Clay Road, said on Wednesday that many farmers are harvesting immature litchi with the hope of getting more money.

Shahidul, an employee of a printing press, also a customer, expressed his satisfaction with the mango and litchi prices.

Another customer, Abdul Hamid, told BSS, "The prices are satisfactory compared to last year, thanks to the large quantity of fruits in stock. I hope the prices will stay like this."

The customers also demanded that the relevant authorities monitor and take proper measures if traders are found using harmful chemicals, such as formalin, to keep fruits from rotting.

As seasonal fruits have started hitting the market, customers are expecting to get formalin-free fruits. 

Fruits laced with formalin cause various diseases, including respiratory problems, asthma, gastric and cancer, said Dr Zahidul Islam of Khulna Diabetic Association.

He emphasised regular monitoring of the Taskforce and mobile team can encourage sellers from selling chemical-free, juicy fruits. 

Khulna, one of Bangladesh's emerging mango-producing regions, is on track for a record-breaking season with an expected harvest worth Taka 863.31 crore, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Khulna region.
 
DAE officials said, around 1,07,914 tonnes of mangoes in 7,890 hectares of land, with an average of 13.67 tonnes per hectare in Satkhira, Narail, Bagerhat and Khulna district, are expected to be produced during the season. 

Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the Khulna Regional Agricultural Extension Directorate (DAE) said this projected crop will provide a significant boost to the region's economy, reinforcing Khulna's reputation as one of Bangladesh's emerging mango-producing districts. 

Highlighting the export potential, the DAE Additional Director said, "Satkhira's 'Gobindovog' and 'Gopalvog '- juicy varieties are not cultivated elsewhere in the country-along with 'Langra' and 'Himsagar' (known as 'Khirsa' in Rajshahi), which have huge demand in international markets."

In addition, the region also cultivated other popular varieties of mangoes like 'BARI-3', 'BARI-4', 'Amrupali', 'Lata Bombay', and 'Katimon'. 

Notably, 'Golapjam', grown exclusively in Tala upazila of Satkhira, is also in high demand both domestically and internationally, he added.