The flower growers and traders of Jashore’s Jhikargaccha upazila, one of the largest flower markets of Bangladesh, expect to sell flowers worth Tk 70 crore in the month of February as flower is a must-have in the celebration Pahela Falgun, Valentines’ Day and observance of Amar Ekushey. Flower growers are passing a busy day in nurturing their flowers ahead of the three events in the country. They also hope that that they will be able to sell flowers worth Tk 100 crore ahead of Pahela Falgun and Valentines’ Day on February 14, International Mother Language Day on February 21, Bangabandhu’s Birth Anniversary on March 17, Independence Day on March 26 Pahela Baishakh on April 14. Gadkhali and Panisara areas of Jhikargachha upazila have taken a colorful look with flowers everywhere where the farmers are nurturing their flowers to catch the markets. Read: Best Valentine's Day Destinations: 10 Stunning Resorts Around Dhaka   Different species of flowers including rose, jarbera, gladiolus, tube-rose, marigold, lilium, gypsy, chandramallika are cultivated in Jashore. Pervez, a flower grower of Syedpara in the upazila, said he brought five bighas of land under marigold cultivation and two bighas under tube-rose cultivation. “Now I am spending busy time nurturing my flowers as I have to catch the flower markets. I also used vitamins and pesticides in my flower garden to keep these free from pest attack,” he said. Qurban Ali, another flower grower of Panisara village, said “I have brought over two bighas of land under rose cultivation. The demand for roses increased on Valentine's Day. There are new buds on the rose plants now. I am spraying vitamins so that they are not damaged. The price of flowers will increase before Valentine's Day, I hope.” Already one stick of rose is being sold at Tk 25-30 per piece at retail level, he said. At retail level, Jerbera is being sold at Tk 8-10 per piece, rose at Tk 15-16 per piece, gladiolus at Tk 15-17 per piece, tube-rose at Tk 12, 1000 pieces merigold at Tk 200-250, gypsy Tk 10 per piece, 100 pieces chandramallika at Tk 500, china rose at Tk 25-26 per piece, but the price of flowers will increase three times ahead of the festivals, he said. Read more: A festival of flowers in Chattogram

Are you planning to surprise your beloved with a special trip on this Valentine’s day? A day out or short vacation at a scenic resort can make this day special for couples. Let's delve into some beautiful resorts near Dhaka. Top 10 Resorts Near Dhaka for Valentine's Day Celebration Joleswori Resort, Gazipur Located in the Faugan village of Rajendrapur in Gazipur district, Joleswori Resort sprawls over about 100 bighas of lush greenery. The resort features three well-furnished buildings, swimming pools, restaurants, and expansive playgrounds for guests to enjoy. The couple's day-long package is priced at BDT 6,000 on weekdays. During holidays like weekends and government holidays, the price is slightly higher at BDT 6,500. Additionally, the room rent for an overnight stay ranges from BDT 8,000 to BDT 9,000, depending on the standard of accommodation. Read more: 8 Best Winter Travel destinations in Bangladesh Reach Rajendrapur Bazar via Rajendrapur Crossroads, then proceed towards Faugan Bazar. You shall find the resort driving a short distance ahead. Chuti Resort, Gazipur Situated near Bhawal National Park in Gazipur, the popular Chuti Resort spans an area of about 50 bighas. The resort boasts sports zones, swimming pools, restaurants, and camping sites. 

The season of love is approaching as we step into February. Valentine’s Day comes every year as a reminder of love and affection. While there are lavish and extravagant ways to make the day memorable, there are less expensive ways to make the day as special as it is. Let’s look at some creative Valentine’s Day gift ideas that won’t leave a dent in your pocket.  11 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas without Breaking Your Bank Make a Core Memory  Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to do something that you’ll remember for a long time, like making a core memory. For example, plan out a hike or go for a boat ride that doesn’t cost much. The thrill and exhilaration of exploring add to sharing a candid moment with each other. Besides, what’s better than traveling and exploring with your partner?  Write a Love Letter or a Poem  Whether it's Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved” or Shelley’s creations, letters and poems have been a constant medium of expressing love for generations. With Valentine’s Day approaching, now is a better time than ever to start writing a love letter or poem for your loved one. It’s a great way to show your effort in a non-materialistic way. And if you need some help, there’s always ChatGPT to the rescue.  Read more: Valentine’s Day Bucket List: Romantic Ideas for Couples DIY Card and Gifts  Are you good with arts and crafts? Even if you’re not, trying your hand at DIY cards and gifts can be a great Valentine’s Day gift to your loved one. It’s also cost-effective considering you’ll hardly need anything other than a few cuts of paper, scissors, and some pens to make the design. Let your creativity and imagination be the guide. But if you want to be more precise, there are tons of DIY gift card tutorials on YouTube that you can follow.  A Photobook of Memories  In an increasingly digital world where photos are stashed in galleries and drives, be old-fashioned and curate a photobook filled with precious memories. Select pictures of some of your best moments together and print them out to create a photobook. It’s a great way to show your sincerity and effort to make the day special.  A Candlelight Dinner at Home Who said romantic dinners are too expensive? Create a romantic ambiance at your home with a candlelight dinner setup. You can either cook the main course at home or order something. It’ll be significantly cheaper than what you’d normally pay for a candlelight dine-out. Plus the effort of creating a beautiful atmosphere would make the whole thing even more special.  Read more: 10 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Wife

India’s government on Friday withdrew its appeal to citizens to mark Valentine’s Day next week not as a celebration of romance but as “Cow Hug Day” to better promote Hindu values. The appeal had attracted widespread criticism from political rivals and on social media. A terse statement issued by the government-run Animal Welfare Board of India said the appeal issued Wednesday “stands withdrawn.” Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst, said the call to hug cows had been “absolutely crazy, defying logic.” “The decision to withdraw the government appeal was to prevent the politics of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) from being ridiculed in the face of severe criticism from all quarters,” he said. Also read: Indian government asks people to hug cows on Valentine's Day Young, educated Indians typically spend Valentine’s Day crowding parks and restaurants, exchanging gifts and holding parties. The Animal Welfare Board had said Wednesday that “hugging cows will bring emotional richness and increase individual and collective happiness.” Devout Hindus, who worship cows as holy, say the Western holiday goes against traditional Indian values. In recent years, Hindu hard-liners have raided shops selling Valentine’s Day items, burned cards and gifts, and chased hand-holding couples out of restaurants and parks, insisting that the day promotes promiscuity. Hindu nationalist groups such as Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal say such raids help reassert a Hindu identity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has been pushing a Hindu agenda, seeking the religion’s supremacy in a secular nation known for its diversity. Hindus comprise nearly 80% of the nearly 1.4 billion people. Muslims account for 14%, while Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains account for most of the remaining 6%. The cow has long been embedded in the Hindu psyche and is deeply respected by many, much like one’s mother. Most states in India have banned cow slaughter.  

The season of love is upon us again this year. It feels like love is definitely in the air as the cold sultry winter makes way for the warm and charming spring. Every year, different brands and hotels come up with exciting offers to make Valentine’s day memorable for the lovebirds. Here’s a list of offers, deals, and discounts in Bangladesh for Valentine’s Day 2023.  Exciting Offers and Deals to Celebrate Valentine’s 2023 in Bangladesh We’ve decided to break down all the deals and discounts into several categories for your ease. Head over to the one you’re most excited about, or go through them all to find out what works best for you.  Dine Out and Staycations  Every year, a gross chunk of deals and offers are found in different upscale hotels and eateries across Dhaka. This year is also no different. Here are a few offers we’re most excited about.  Amari Dhaka  Amari Dhaka is offering a luxurious staycation experience complete with a buffet for two on the occasion of Valentine’s day. The rate for their deluxe double starts at 12,223 BDT and goes up to 19,223 with the buffet perk included. You can also avail candlelight dinner or high tea experience if you’re not willing to stay the night. Candlelight dinner will cost around 6,499 BDT, whereas the high tea will set you back at 1,450 BDT. Read More: 10 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Wife Best Western Plus Maple Leaf  Best Western Hotel is also offering Valentine’s getaway experience complete with a candlelight dinner for 14,000 BDT. You can also avail of this candlelight dinner and their grand buffet for 5000 and 3400 BDT respectively. Hotel Sarina Dhaka  Hotel Sarina also offers a host of amenities with their lunch and dinner buffet. Their 7-course couple dinner will set you back 5000 BDT. They also have a staycation offer with complimentary breakfast and lunch for 12,000 BDT.  Dhaka Regency  Dhaka Regency is hosting Valentine’s on the Skyline with their signature Grill on the Skyline restaurant. The dinner event offers it all, from live BBQ, enchanting music, cake, and photo frames. This offer is valid on a first-come, first-served basis and will only apply to the first 50 couples. This luxury BBQ dinner will set you back around 8,585 BDT.  Read More: With Ekushey, Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day in Feb, Jashore flower farmers eye huge sales Intercontinental Dhaka  This year, Intercontinental Dhaka has brought their Valentine's theme to three of their signature restaurants. The Elements, Amber Room, and the Aquadeck. The cost of a candlelight dinner at each restaurant is around 15,000 BDT.  Le Meridien Le Meridien has also introduced a six-course dinner set meal for couples on Valentine’s day. Their grand buffet will set the diners back at 8500 BDT, whereas the six-course poolside candlelight dinner will range from 16,000 to 19500 BDT.  Several other restaurants and hotels like Izakaya, Hongbao, and Thai Emerald will also announce their Valentine’s day offers soon. Read More: How Can Singles Celebrate Valentine's Day Cheerfully?

Pahela Falgun (first day of spring on Bangla calendar), Shaheed Dibash (International Mother Language Day and Language Martyrs Day), and Valentine’s Day all fall in the month of February and flowers are a must-have for these occasions. Understandably, this month brings smiles to flower farmers and traders across Bangladesh. Flower farmers of Godkhali union under Jhikargacha upazila of Jashore district, one of the largest flower markets of the country, is busy with the hope of selling flowers worth around Tk 300 crore. Godkhali, known as the “flower capital” of the country, has taken on a mesmerizing look with red, blue, yellow, purple and white flowers. This year, local farmers have cultivated various flowers on about 600 hectares of land in Godkhali. Ninety percent people of this village make a living by cultivating flowers. Read More: Peshawar, the city of flowers, becomes epicenter of violence Flowers cultivated in 75 villages of Jhikargacha, 25 kms from Jashore town, include marigolds, roses, gladiolus, gerberas, daisies, gypsies and dahlias. Every year flowers worth around Tk 500 crore are grown in the fields. Flower farmers and traders make huge profits every year in February as demand for flowers increase during the three major events – Pahela Falgun, Valentine’s Day and International Mother Language Day. Abdur Rahim, president of Bangladesh Flower Growers’ Association, said that a lion’s share of roses comes from Jashore’s Godkhali area. Not only roses, other varieties of flowers are also grown here. Read More: ‘Broom flowers’ of Sitakunda hills being exported to Middle East As the weather was favourable this year, farmers are working day and night in the fields – optimistic about big sales, he added. Flower farmer Bablur Rahman said, many wholesalers and retailers from different parts of the country have started thronging the Godkhali market of Jhikargacha. Ismail Hossain, a farmer of Panisara village, said, “Tulips have added a different dimension this year in this flower kingdom. No one imagined that this flower – from cold countries – would bloom here.”

Dhaka has worn a colorful look as festival-loving Bangladeshi people are celebrating the first day of the most anticipated season Basanta (Spring) and globally celebrated Valentine's Day on Monday, all amid the pandemic. Over the past couple of years, people, particularly in Bangladesh, had become used to celebrating a two-day festivity in February, with the 13th being the day of Pohela Falgun and the 14th as Valentine’s Day. However, both the days are being celebrated on February 14, due to the changes made in the Bengali calendar. Falgun is the eleventh month in the Bengali calendar and the first month of the season, Spring, the king of all the six seasons that brings back warm sunshine, budding flowers and dancing of birds. Keeping pace with the rest of the world, Bangladeshis also celebrate Valentine's Day with their beloved ones. Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an ancient Roman tradition which has been celebrated in European countries for ages. These days it is widely celebrated in Asia, including Bangladesh, thanks to its fast globalisation. Read: Spending Romantic Valentine’s Day at Home? Get Delectable Lunch, Dinner Ideas

We all know that Valentine's Day can be a challenging time for many singles. Not every person may have a lover on this special day. While the couples are planning to enjoy this day through various fun activities, numerous single people might face boredome and depression. Certainly, it is not easy to spend this day alone. So, how should single man and woman celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2022? If you are single, read this article to check out some effective ways to enjoy the day without feeling lonely at all.  Ways to be happily single on Valentines day Plan or Create Your Own Dinner Party Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate love, but for singles, it can be a bit of a drag. Rather than moping around the house, why not plan or create your own dinner party with single friends? This will give you all something to look forward to and will help take the focus off of being single on Valentine's Day. There are many different ways to go about planning a dinner party, so choose the format that works best for you. You could either each cook a dish or casserole, or you could all go out for dinner and come back to someone's place for dessert and drinks. Read Valentine’s Day 2022: Deals, offers in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh Get Out of Town If you are feeling restless, get out of town for the weekend. What could be more cheerful than spending Valentine's Day by yourself in a new city? Getting out of town is a great way to escape the crowds. However, we don't recommend flying solo, so book a room at a hotel or make arrangements with friends to stay with them. Cook Dinner for Your Parents Instead of spending time alone or with friends on this Valentine's Day, why not cook dinner for your parents? Show them how much you care by preparing a meal that they will love. Surprise your parents by cooking up something amazing for them in appreciation for all that they have done for you. Making a meal is something that bonds families together and makes them feel really special. And it's something that will make you feel really good when it's all said and done. You could make your favorite dish, or try something new. No matter what you choose, your parents are sure to appreciate your effort. Cooking for them will make for a special and memorable Valentine's Day. Read Digital Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas 2022 Eat at Your Favorite Restaurant You don't have to cook to feel like you are treating yourself. Get your favorite meal at your favorite restaurant. Eating out at a restaurant is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It is a fun way to treat yourself, and it is a great way to enjoy delicious food. Plus, it is a great way to celebrate with friends or family. So don't worry if you don't have a romantic partner. Just head to your favorite restaurant and enjoy yourself.

Valentine's Day 2022 is approaching and love is in the air. This is the time of year when couples and singles alike celebrate love and affection. If you are looking for some great Valentine's Day deals, discounts, and offers in Dhaka city, you have come to the right place. Our city has a lot to offer when it comes to romantic getaways, and we have put together a list of some of the best deals in town. So, check them out and start planning your perfect Valentine's Day celebration. Jewelry Diamond World has organized a special campaign on the occasion of Valentine's Day 2022. With the middle class in mind, Diamond World is offering a 27% discount on diamond jewelry for online purchase at https://www.diamondworldltd.com/. Moreover, every purchase will get a gift voucher, platinum card, and special valentine gift until February 15. Also read: Digital Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas 2022 Hotels and Restaurants Almost all the restaurants and upper-class hotels in Dhaka city are offering Valentine's Day deals. Following are some of the top offers. Dhaka Regency Hotel has organized a special event on the occasion of Valentine's Day. Dhaka Regency has organized Valentine on the Skyline at Rooftop Garden Restaurant' Grill on the Skyline'. There will be a bar-b-que buffet dinner for couples. There will also be Valentine's special drinks and special heart-shaped cakes, as well as opportunities to enjoy live music by popular musicians by candlelight. All these will cost Tk 7,999. As always, Amari Dhaka has organized a special offer on the occasion of Valentine's Day where couples can enjoy special dinner and spa packages. Amaya Food Gallery has a special dinner offer for only Tk 5,000 per couple. In addition, there is a free offer for special bank cardholders at a purchase price of only Tk 2,500. Enjoy your favorite Day with Italian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Indian Live Kitchen food at Amari Dhaka. Read Groom Gifts: Cool Wedding Gift Ideas for Men The Westin Dhaka offers several deals for couple staycation. Deluxe Rooms will cost Tk. 13,999, Junior Suite will cost Tk 16,999, and Executive Suite will cost Tk 19,999. All these deals include heart-shaped valentine cake, 24 hours stay-in, a 30% discount at Westin Spa, and more. On the other hand, Radisson Blu Dhaka has three-day offerings for couples, which will start on February 12 and ends on February 14. Pre valentine's day dinner buffet on February 12 and 13 will cost Tk 3,700 while it will be Tk 5,900 to Tk 7,900. They also have offers for a stay starting from Tk 6,500. InterContinental Dhaka has a special deal for the rooms starting at Tk 19,999, which will start on February 10 and end on February 20. The deal features a one-night stay, buffet dinner, breakfast, special chocolate box, and kore. Read Best Resorts near Dhaka for Day out or Weekend Away Ascott Hotels offer Valentine's dinner for Tk 3,500 at Nabihah Restaurant & Café at Ascott the Residence, Baridhara, Dhaka. Moreover, they also have a couple of staycation offers for Tk. 10,500/night which comes with a complimentary 6 course including dinner and breakfast. Clothing Sara Lifestyle has brought Kurtis, printed three-pieces, fashion tops, denim for the girls on Valentine's Day occasions as well as for the spring. This year's collection for men includes various arrangements, including Punjabi, casual shirts, formal shirts, polo, t-shirts, denim pants, chino. And floral print has been given priority in the design of all these garments. All the new dresses will be available both online (https://www.saralifestyle.com.bd/) and in-store. Fashion house 'Rang Bangladesh' has brought a new collection on the occasion of Valentine's Day. The theme for this year's collections is named a sign of love, which uses red as the main color and golden as a secondary color. Cotton and half silk fabric designs have been enhanced using various value-added media. This includes screen printing and handwork. This collection includes a sari, Punjabi, t-shirt, and mug with a couple dresses. There are also jewelry and various gift items. Read Wedding: Renowned Bangladeshi Fashion Brands with a Bridal Line Furniture and Home Appliances ISHO, one of the leading furniture brands in the country, has launched a new 'Date in a Box' campaign on the occasion of Valentine's Day. ISHO's initiative is to spread joy among all in the ongoing pandemic worldwide. There are three types of boxes for customers in ISHO's 'Date in a Box' campaign. Three boxes are nicely arranged with the themes of 'Movie Night,' 'Breakfast-in-Bed' and 'Candlelight Dinner' considering the preferences of the customers. Each box is priced individually. You can visit https://www.isho.com/ to get your box. RFL has introduced five new types of customized gas stoves in the market on the occasion of Valentine's Day. This special offer can be availed from the popular ecommerce site othoba.com for 10% off on the entire February. Also, on RFL Gas Stove's Facebook page, buyers will be able to participate in various online competitions of this campaign and win all the attractive prizes. Read How to buy men’s watches: A beginner’s guide Phones Samsung has collaborated with ecommerce website Daraz to provide a valentine’s day offer this year. You can enjoy all the great deals from Daraz for different Samsung devices. For example, you will get up to 12% off on Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A03s. realme is launching a new phone on Valentine's Day 2022. realme 9i will be available on the valentine's day campaign. The first smartphone of the realme 9 series comes with Leap Forward technology. The 9i has a great processor. The new chipset consumes 62% less power and is 46% more efficient than a 12-nanometer processor. Read Top Amusement Parks in Dhaka for Family Day Outs, Children Fun Activities Ecommerce Daraz Bangladesh, the country's largest online marketplace, is organizing Valentine's Day Campaign (2022) for the sixth time in a row on the occasion of Valentine's Day. The campaign will run from February 7 to February 14 to spread love among the customers. There are huge discounts on numerous products in the campaign. These include 'New User 20% Off', 'Brand Free Shipping,' 'Fashion Mega' Voucher, 'Global Collection' Voucher, 'Deals of the Day,' 'Daraz Mall' Voucher, 'Shake Shake Offer' and many more attractive deals. To celebrate Valentine's Day, the popular ecommerce site othoba.com has organized the 'Joy of Valentine Campaign.' Online customers will get the opportunity to shop at attractive discounts throughout the campaign. The campaign, which runs till February 13, offers customers a maximum of 65% discount on purchases, mega deals, exclusive offers, free delivery facility, and a 20% cashback offer on bKash payments. Read Best Bangladesh Beach Resorts to Spend Your Vacation

Although the ongoing global pandemic made all events around the world adopt at least the 'new normal' methods, the festivities in the capital marking Pahela Falgun 1427 and Valentine's Day 2021 on Sunday were observed vividly in Dhaka by the cultural organizations and institutions with enthralling programmes.