Sohrab Hossain

Despite a good supply of watermelons in Patuakhali markets, consumers are not able to buy the seasonal fruit due to high price. It is one of the most sought after fruits during Ramadan.

Agriculture was his life. But that life, like countless others, has been uprooted by the harsh reality of climate change.

Almost half of the total paved roads in Patuakhali’s two upazilas -- Galachipa and Dashmina – have been in a poor condition and become unfit for vehicular movements due to lack of renovation for long.

The academic buildings of the lone educational institution for girls in Barguna’s Amtali upazila are in a dilapidated state, leaving its 420 students compelled to attend classes amid risks.

A public toilet in a tourist destination is always a good idea. But not when it comes at the cost of a 240-year-old ancient Buddhist temple of an indigenous community.

In Barguna’s Amtali upazila, lies a meticulously laid-out dragon fruit plantation, surrounded by many other fruit trees such as guava, mango, and more.

In order to evade tolls, Patuakhali-bound goods-laden trucks are using alternative roads, avoiding the weighing scales installed on Payra bridge in Lebukhali area on Dhaka-Patuakhali highway.

Neary a year after missing the deadline, construction work of four bridges in Rangabali upazila, located far from the mainland, has remained half done due to alleged negligence of the contractor concerned.

Around 300 farmer families pass the busiest time of the year from December to April producing molasses, worth crores of takas, from the juice collected from mangrove Gol (Nipa palm) trees in different areas of Patuakhali

A project, a promise of education, a chance to break free from the shackles of illiteracy.

The overall tourism industry in Bangladesh performed well throughout the outgoing calendar year despite facing adversity in the final quarter due to ongoing political unrest, according to industry people.

After losing his overseas job during the pandemic, Al Amin Howlader, a 35-year-old former expatriate from Patuakhali, encountered repeated setbacks in his quest for alternative employment. He turned the tide of his fortune by establishing a small factory in his village, crafting decorative motor parts from fibreglass.

The Gangamati Reserve Forest in Kuakata, Patuakhali, which acted as a natural shield against Cyclone Sidr in 2007 and other such calamities, is under threat due to tree felling and soil extraction.

A school playground now lies silent behind its fenced net, devoid of the laughter and joy of children.

Brickfields in Bangladesh have incurred losses of around Tk 1,200 crore as heavy rains amid cyclone Midhili on November 16-17 hindered production early this season

In the quiet village of Purbo Atkhali in Patuakhali’s Galachipa upazila, 82-year-old Sirajul Islam Hawladar is known among all for planting trees -- his lifelong passion.

The tourism industry of Bangladesh has been hit hard by the ongoing political unrest as people are unwilling to travel for fear of violence amid strikes and blockades across the country, according to businesspeople.

Jagabandhu Mishtanna Bhandar, located in the New Market area of Patuakhali’s Kalapara, has been a place of delight for people in the region for nearly a century. 

Art has no limit, and Zakir Hossain Munshi, a fisherman by profession, is an example of this statement.

In Bangladesh, the peak season for the tourism and hospitality sector begins in September and continues until March. And the upcoming long weekend is going to provide an initial boost to the sector, with operators in major holiday destinations coming up with various offers.