Bangladesh can tap $36bn cut flower market: Razzaque

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque has said that Bangladesh can explore around $36 billion cut flower market worldwide as it is now a very promising harvest.

Razzaque said this while inaugurating a modern wholesale flower market and processing centre built by the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) in Beribadh area of Gabtoli Bus Depot in the capital on Friday.

BSS adds: He said, "Flower cultivation is increasing on a commercial basis. There is a huge market of USD 36 billion of cut flowers worldwide. We have the ability to tap this market and can attain a market share of at least 500 million USD," he said.

"Our economy will flourish more in the future. The export of cut flowers can play a big role there. So, we need to invent new varieties of flowers, new cultivation techniques and expand the market," he added.

Terming the wholesale flower market as a milestone in terms of agricultural marketing, Razzaque emphasized on modern and proper management of the market.

Leaders of the flower trader community at the function said the size of the local cut flower market is Tk 1,500 crore and 15 lakh people are working in this sector now.

They expressed their gratitude for building this wholesale market and processing centre, saying, it would become very helpful in exporting the flower also.

Presided over by Additional Secretary of Agriculture Ministry Ruhul Amin Talukder, the function was also addressed by BARC executive chairman Sheikh Md Bokhtiyar, DAM director general Md Masud Karim, Department of Agricultural Extension director general Tazul Islam Patwari and Dhaka Flower Trader Welfare Society president Babul Prasad, among others.