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

Flower growers in different villages under Kalagachiya union in Bandar upazila of Narayanganj are expecting to sell flowers worth Tk 20 crore this season amid bountiful production.