Naogaon Correspondent

at a standstill.”

When Nature Moves Faster Than Policy

Sohel Rana, owner of Barendra Agro Park, called the early ripening both a blessing and a curse. “We had a beautiful crop this year. But the heat accelerated ripening. And mangoes can’t be stored for long, especially without a cold chain, so we had no way to preserve them.”

He added, “Every mango we pick has to be sold the same day. If not, we dump it. That’s our only option.”

Sohel believes that if even partial banking and transport services had remained open during Eid, much of the losses could have been avoided.

“In a place like Sapahar, where thousands depend on mango income, there needs to be flexibility during peak season,” he said.

Officials Defend the System

Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Director of the DAE in Naogaon, said this year’s mango calendar was actually brought forward by three days compared to last year.

He acknowledged that the Eid holidays caused disruption, but played down the scale of the losses. "Permission for early harvest was available. If anyone applied properly, they should have received it.”

He added that the district still hopes to achieve its mango revenue target of Tk 3,500 to 4,000 crore this year.

But on the ground, many growers say these reassurances offer little comfort.

“If this continues even a few more days,” warned Imam Hossain, “The entire mango market could collapse. Prices will spike, supply will vanish and everyone -- farmers, traders, consumers -- will suffer.”

In a country where agriculture underpins millions of lives, this year’s mango season in Naogaon stands as a cautionary tale, underscoring the need for responsive governance, real-time decision-making and investment in post-harvest infrastructure.

For now, Sapahar’s trees still hang heavy with fruit. But beneath them lie the spoils of delay -- mangoes, money, and the hope of a season lost.