CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, Dec 19: From dawn until sunset, vast stretches of farmland on the isolated Mujibnagar Char in Char Fasson Upazila remain abuzz with activity, as nearly a thousand seasonal agricultural labourers work tirelessly to prepare land for watermelon cultivation.
Spread over 6,437 acres, Mujibnagar char falls under Char Fasson Upazila of Bhola District and is surrounded by the Tentulia River. Although a few scattered settlements exist on the char, nearly one-fourth of its land is under cultivation. River crossings by small ferries remain the only means of communication for the residents.
Across the fields, some workers operate power tillers to plough the land, while others work in groups preparing plots and nurturing young watermelon plants. This daily routine continues throughout the peak cultivation season.
Over the past three years, favourable yields have brought renewed optimism among watermelon growers in the area. Thanks to the availability of freshwater from the Tentulia River and its interconnected canals, watermelon cultivation on the char has been expanding steadily each year.
Md Hossain, a labourer from Ward No. 9 of Char Kalmi area, said workers are hired on monthly contracts, covering everything from land preparation to selling the produce.
"I am working on a three-month contract at Tk 22,000 per month. Food and accommodation are provided by the farmers," he said, adding that nearly a thousand workers like him remain engaged in watermelon farming on the char during the season.
Farmer Md Ismail of Mujibnagar union said, he has cultivated watermelons on 13 acres of land, planting varieties such as Thai Super, Thai King and Early One.
"Last year, I sold watermelons from 15 gonda of land for Tk 8 lakh. If Allah wills, I hope to sell Tk 80-90 lakh worth of watermelons this year, with expenses amounting to around Tk 20 lakh," he said.
Since he opted for early cultivation, Ismail expects to sell his produce by weight. "My field has watermelons weighing between six and 10 kilograms each," he added.
Md Zillur Rahman, manager of Krishi Bank's Char Fasson branch, said farmers had previously received loans under agricultural incentive schemes at 4 per cent interest, though the programme was discontinued in December 2024.
"Currently, farmers generally receive loans at an interest rate of 12 per cent," he said.
According to the upazila agriculture office, 10,780 hectares of land were brought under watermelon cultivation in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Officials expect the cultivated area to surpass targets this season compared to the previous year.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Nazmul Huda described the char areas of Char Fasson as the "cradle of watermelon farming."
"The soil here is extremely fertile. There are around 6,000 watermelon farmers in the upazila, and nearly 50,000 people are directly and indirectly involved in the production process," he said.
He added that farmers cultivated watermelons on around 5,000 acres of land in Mujibnagar Union alone this season.
"The availability of freshwater, particularly from the Tentulia River, has encouraged farmers in this western region to increasingly shift towards watermelon cultivation," he said.
