Sunamganj:Losing six fingers in a workplace accident could not stop Shah Alam, 38, from rebuilding his life. Overcoming physical challenges and poverty, the farmer from Mathurkandi village in Bishwambharpur upazila of Sunamganj has achieved self-reliance through cultivating the locally popular Gera Sundari variety of bananas.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shah Alam's success has not only enabled him to support his family but also helped him purchase agricultural land, finance his siblings' education, and establish several banana gardens through years of hard work and determination.
Bishwambharpur, located beside Kharchha Haor, is an agricultural upazila where most residents depend on farming for their livelihoods. Shah Alam, the eldest child of a freedom fighter and a homemaker, grew up in a nine-member family struggling with poverty. Financial hardship prevented him from pursuing formal education beyond basic literacy, leading him to work in agriculture alongside his father from a young age.
A serious workplace accident at a local sawmill resulted in severe injuries, leading to the amputation of six of his fingers. With his father eventually giving up farming due to old age, Shah Alam took responsibility for supporting the family. Finding it difficult to perform conventional jobs because of his injuries, he decided to take up banana cultivation, leasing land near his home for the purpose.
For the past four years, Shah Alam has worked to establish himself as a banana grower. His organically grown bananas have gained popularity across Sunamganj district for their quality, relying solely on cow dung as fertiliser. He sells around 40 to 50 hali of bananas daily, both at a local market and in Sunamganj town.
Despite his physical limitations, Shah Alam continues to work tirelessly to expand his banana cultivation. He has been receiving a government disability allowance since 2023 and believes that further assistance could help him expand production and supply Gera Sundari bananas to markets in different districts across the country.
Omar Faruk, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Sunamganj, mentioned that farmers could contact their respective Upazila Agriculture Offices for technical advice and guidance to improve cultivation practices and increase yields.