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

Start of spring or Bengali month Falgun seems to bring pleasant weather in the country as the Met office forecasts dry weather and unchanged temperature ahead. Weather may remain dry over the country, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in a forecast for next 24 hours commencing 9 am on Tuesday. However, light to moderate fog may occur at places over the country during late night to morning, it added. Also read: Rain likely to usher in pleasant weather Night and day temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country, said BMD. In an outlook for the next 72 hours, the met office said the temperature may rise offering warmer sunshine and a relief from cold winter days. The lowest temperature in the country was recorded at 8.8 degree Celsius in Tetulia and the highest at 29.6 in Teknaf. Also read: Thanks to good weather Thakurgaon farmers hope for a bumper mustard harvest

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.

The people from all ages with their animated vigour and colourful minds are celebrating Pohela Falgun, the first day of the 11th month in the Bengali calendar, signaling the start of spring (Boshonto) and  coinciding with the worldwide celebration of Valentine's Day - all amidst the pandemic.

After surviving what has been a dreadful year in any calendar, dominated for the most part by an invisible killer, Bangladesh is set to awake Sunday to festivity and celebrations rooted in its own natural environment: its people, its rivers, the flora and fauna. Spring is across most cultures and geographies the King of Seasons, a wellspring for life in all its forms to revive itself.