Last month, as part of the Bangladesh Awami League’s district-level organisational initiatives, we visited the districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to inaugurate “Smart Corner” and hold grassroots meetings. One evening, while engaging in a spirited discussion about agriculture with our colleague Kabir Bin Anwar—who has a deep and abiding interest in farming and farmers—the topic of agricultural possibilities in the hills came up.
What emerged from the conversation was not merely hopeful speculation but a vision grounded in reality: the soil of the Chittagong Hill Tracts is incredibly fertile. With its diverse microclimates and terrain, it can potentially support the cultivation of nearly all known varieties of fruit. From the rare and luxurious “White Jewel Strawberry” of Japan to the premium “Miyazaki Mango”—one of the world’s most expensive mangoes—such fruits could be successfully grown here with the right investment and planning.
A considerable portion of the land in the CHT remains either uncultivated or underutilised. If we were to initiate a carefully designed and well-managed programme of fruit orchard development, this region could truly become the “Fruit Basket of the World”. Within ten years, the economic landscape of the entire region could be transformed.
But for such a dream to take root, it must first be owned by the people of the hills themselves. What is needed is a coordinated social movement—one where all communities and elected representatives of the hill districts come together in consensus to create a clear model for sustainable fruit agriculture. This vision should be presented by the representatives on behalf of the people, not imposed from outside.
To begin with, a government-led pilot project could provide agricultural inputs and training to farmers in the region. Once the first cycle of harvest is sold, the revenue earned would enable landowners to continue the process independently. In time, this could expand naturally through a “demonstration effect”—where one farmer’s success encourages others to follow suit.
The initiative must also include modern infrastructure support. The government could establish a network of cold storage facilities across key locations in the region to preserve perishable fruits. These facilities could be managed through local government structures, ensuring accessibility and sustainability.
Given Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s proven foresight and commitment to rural development, it is highly likely that such an initiative would receive her unequivocal support. But this vision cannot be government-driven alone—it must be community-led. The hill communities must unite, take ownership of the initiative, and collectively decide to turn their land into a beacon of prosperity and sustainability.
This is not merely a question of agriculture—it is a question of economic sovereignty, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment. With the right leadership, commitment, and unity, the Chittagong Hill Tracts can indeed become a global symbol of agro-innovation and abundance.