Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, July 28, 2025 (BSS) - Speakers at a fruit festival today called for planting more fruit trees and emphasized the importance of families consuming adequate amounts of locally-produced fruits to reduce disease and maintain good health.

They said fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, contributing to overall health and potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

The speakers also discussed the nutritional value of fruits, the benefits of consuming locally produced fruits, and the importance of planting saplings of fruit, timber, and medicinal plants.

They made these observations while addressing the inaugural function of 'Fruit Festival and Tree Gift-2025' at Salema Girls' High School here. 

The students who took part in the festival were delighted to see such a wide variety of local fruits and learn about their nutritional values.

The school authorities organized the festival with the aim of introducing young students to nutritious local fruits and raising awareness about the importance of tree planting to keep the environment green and habitable in the face of a changing climate.

President of the school managing committee and noted literary and cultural figure Swattik Shah Al Maruf attended the event as the chief guest, with Headmaster Md Mokbul Hossain in the chair.

Former managing committee President Shah Mohammad Selim, committee member Mahmud Kamal, Headmaster of Rangpur Adarsha School Md Rahamat Alam, and senior journalist Md Mamun Islam addressed the event as special guests.

The chief guest said that to build a healthy and talented nation and improve the environment, the production and consumption of local fruits and tree plantation must be promoted to meet the population's nutritional needs.

"I hope that fruit festivals and tree plantation campaigns will be organized every year in this school, and that this practice will become a tradition in every educational institution across the country," he said.

Ninth graders Rokaiya Akter and Umme Ayman Bibi Muna gave a PowerPoint presentation describing the nutritional value of local fruits and comparing their rich nutritional content with that of high-priced foreign fruits.

Twenty-seven varieties of local fruits were displayed at the festival, and 400 saplings of fruit, timber, and medicinal plants were distributed among the students.