15/06/2026
In the heart of Dhaka's Middle Badda area, Asma Kadir has transformed the rooftop of a six-storey building into a lush urban orchard known as "Shobuj Chaya." What began in 2010 with just a couple of mango varieties has grown into a thriving collection of 26 types of mango trees. Together with her husband, she has created a fully green canopy that now produces around 200-240 kg of mangoes annually, turning the rooftop into one of the city’s most remarkable urban farming success stories.
The garden includes both local favourites and rare global varieties, including the prized Japanese Miyazaki mango. This season alone, one Chiemai tree yielded nearly 2 maunds of fruit, while the entire rooftop harvest reached about 5-6 maunds. Despite occasional losses from heavy fruit loads and birds feeding freely on the trees, Asma Kadir maintains the garden organically and without protective netting, embracing nature's balance. She also continues to inspire new gardeners with practical advice on combining local and year-round mango varieties for rooftop cultivation.
Source:
Prothom Alo
