Bashonti Murmu, a 34-year-old Santal woman, lives in Tanore upazila of Natore district. A couple of years ago, she went to a local money lender to pay for the education of her three children.
Small, fragrant and completely yellow when ripe, the Ranipasand mango was named such after being excessively liked by a visiting British royal during the colonial time, local Chapai Nawabganj folklore says.
During fruit harvesting season, if you are looking for mangoes for consumption or business, Kansat is the ultimate place to be. The Kansat mango market at Chapai Nawabganj is renowned as the largest mango bazaar in Bangladesh and like all bazaars, there’s madness here, but there’s also distinct method to it.
Mangoes might feel like just another fruit, but to the people of Rajshahi to Chapai Nawabganj, they are a way of life. Mango orchards begin harvesting mid-May, but the story begins much earlier. Here’s a narrative of what happens all year through to the golden fruit of Bangladesh, from facing nor’westers during Boishakh and harsh cold weather in winter.
It is not that the claim of being the mango capital goes undisputed, especially in recent times, with places like Naogaon seriously contending and challenging its position. But arguably, Chapai Nawabganj has still managed to hold its fort, and for good reasons. To start with, let's be clear that it's not Rajshahi we are talking about. Chapai Nawabganj indeed falls under the