As the sun beats down mercilessly on the sprawling agricultural fields of Faridpur, an all-too-familiar struggle unfolds -- storage crisis for their produce. Locals said farmers and traders, laden with tonnes of freshly harvested potatoes, find themselves in a desperate race against time, vying for elusive storage space in the region’s limited cold storage facilities. Concerns growing over Rooppur Nuclear Plant’s viability amid high costs Their patience wears thin as the queue of trucks, brimming with golden heaps of potatoes, snakes along the Rajbari Road. For days on, weary farmers linger under the oppressive heat, their precious produce vulnerable to the unforgiving elements. Despite their best efforts, many are met with disappointment, as storage space remains in short supply, leaving them grappling with an unsettling fear—the looming prospect of spoilage. A Battle Against Time and Heat For the past five to six days, long lines of trucks have remained stagnant outside the cold storage facility on Rajbari Road. Inside the tightly packed vehicles, sacks of potatoes sit precariously, their quality slowly eroding with each passing hour. Farmers watch anxiously, knowing that nature does not wait. Bumper tomato yields bring no joy to Sunamganj farmers The standard practice dictates that bookings for cold storage must be made months in advance, typically in December and January. Even those who meticulously followed this protocol are finding themselves at an impasse. The growing demand for storage space has led to a backlog, further exacerbating the plight of traders and farmers alike. Selim Mollah, a trader who journeyed all the way from Thakurgaon with 13 tonnes of potatoes, expressed his distress. “I arrived in Faridpur five days ago, but I’m still waiting to store my potatoes. The prolonged wait has left me exhausted, and I’m worried the heat will ruin my produce.” His frustration is echoed by many others who share his predicament—stranded with their crops, caught in a cycle of uncertainty. A Facility Strained Beyond Its Limits Faridpur Cold Storage Limited, a privately owned facility established in 1995 in the bustling Goalchamat area, stands at the heart of this crisis. With a storage capacity of 150,000 bags—each capable of holding 60 kg of potatoes—the facility serves farmers and traders from March to November. Besides, it provides short-term storage for fruit vendors, catering to a diverse range of agricultural needs. At the onset of the storage season, merchants from Faridpur, Gopalganj, Kushtia, Jhenidah, Magura, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Rajshahi flock to this vital hub, eager to safeguard their produce. Each bag stored comes at a price of Tk 405, a necessary investment to ensure their harvest remains intact until it reaches the market. Yet, the sheer volume of potatoes arriving in tandem has pushed the facility to its limits. Rustum Mollah, the manager of Faridpur Cold Storage, attributes the bottleneck to an overwhelming yield and an influx of trucks arriving simultaneously. “We’ve already received over 60,000 bags of potatoes. Once we clear the backlog, we’ll be able to manage the remaining stock,” he explained. However, the challenge is not just about capacity—it is also about manpower. “We have a limited number of unloading workers, which is causing delays in storing potatoes from distant areas. However, we aim to clear the waiting trucks within the next four to five days,” he assured, offering a glimmer of hope to those still waiting. Pilgrims, agencies struggle as Saudi Arabia almost freezes visa issuance for Umrah A Larger Crisis in Cold Chain Infrastructure The situation in Faridpur is but a microcosm of a larger issue plaguing Bangladesh’s agricultural sector—an acute shortage of cold storage facilities. The country’s existing infrastructure, though boasting over 300 cold storage units with a combined capacity of 2.7 million metric tonnes, remains woefully inadequate. This deficiency leads to significant post-harvest losses, compromises food safety, and stifles the potential for agricultural trade. Experts argue that a well-developed cold chain system could revolutionise the sector, enabling farmers to expand export opportunities while ensuring their produce retains its quality and nutritional value. Without such an intervention, farmers will continue to battle the elements, their hard-earned yields at the mercy of time and temperature. For now, the farmers of Faridpur remain steadfast in their vigil, hoping against hope that their patience—and their potatoes—will not go to waste.

Freezers or “deep fridges” have become an essential part of every home. As the country adjusts to the record hot and humid weather, the need for freezers has become even more urgent for storing food items. For example, fish, meat, and other perishables need to be stored in freezers for long preservations. And sometimes, traditional fridges with small built-in freezers simply aren’t enough. So for those looking for a freezer, this is the ultimate guide. In this article, we talk about different types, what to consider, and the price range of freezers in Bangladesh in 2024.  Types of Freezers  There are different types of freezers depending on their setup and functionality. For example, some freezers are built into a regular fridge. There are also walk-in freezers used in commercial kitchens.  But depending on the physicality of standalone freezers, it can be divided into three main types:  Upright Freezers  These freezers resemble traditional fridges with their upright design and a front opening door. They are perfect when you need to regularly access the storage. The upright design allows for better compartment allocation making it easy to store and retrieve items.  However, upright freezers are less energy efficient compared to chest freezers. It also has less storage due to compartmentalization.  Drawer Freezers  Drawer freezers are built into the kitchen cabinet for seamless integration. This type of freezer isn’t all that common in Bangladesh as most kitchens do not utilize the cabinet system.  Besides, drawer freezers have less storage space compared to both upright and chest freezers. It is also more expensive to install them.  Chest Freezer  Almost all the freezers available in the Bangladesh market are chest freezers. This type of freezer opens from the top with a hinged lid. The obvious advantage of a chest freezer is the large storage capacity. These freezers are great for long-term storage as they are more power-efficient than the other two. However, on the downside, chest freezers require more floor space compared to upright or drawer freezers.  Read more: IPS Buyer's Guide with Price Ranges in Bangladesh What to Consider While Buying a Freezer  What is your plan with the freezer?  One of the first things to consider before buying a freezer is how you plan to use the freezer. For example, do you plan to use it as supplemental storage for your regular fridge? Or do you plan to store items for a long time? Depending on your need, you can choose an upright freezer for frequent access or a chest freezer for long-haul storage.  Where to place the freezer?  As homes and apartments get smaller and smaller in urban areas, it's important to consider whether you’ll be able to accommodate a freezer in a way that doesn’t stick out. You need to consider whether your kitchen space or the dining space is the most suitable for positioning the freezer.  Additionally, consider checking your doorways to make sure you can fit in the freezer in your desired area.  Capacity  Another thing to consider is the capacity. Many standard fridges already come with a built-in freezer. However, if you need additional space for cold storage, a 90 to 150-liter-sized freezer is considered mini-sized. For mid-size options, consider anything between 150 to 200 liters. Anything above 200 liters can be classified as large freezers. What is your budget?  The budget is perhaps another important thing to consider when buying a freezer. As a rule of thumb, higher storage capacity would incur higher costs. The price also depends on cutting-edge features available in the freezer.  Freezers from local brands tend to be cheaper compared to international options.  Available Features  You may consider some additional features before choosing a freezer. These include:  - Energy efficiency - Fast freezing - Automatic defrost - Heat retention - Temperature alarm - Interior lighting - Locking - Style and design.