Free Lychee Garden in Pabna Opens 200 Trees for All

Imagine an expansive orchard with over 200 trees, heavy with bunches of juicy, ripe litchis in the Bengali month of Jaishthya. Now imagine walking right in and eating as many as you want without spending a single paisa.

This is the reality at the orchard of Mostafa Jamal Shamim, an agriculturist and entrepreneur from Alokdia village under Santhia Upazila in Pabna.

Shamim, the Managing Director of Kimia Center and a teacher of agriculture at Pabna College, established this orchard on eight bighas of land bought with his own funds about 15 years ago. Known locally for his philanthropic contributions to healthcare and education, Shamim conceived this orchard entirely for the public good. The litchis grown here are reserved for local villagers, the underprivileged, visitors, and friends—completely free of charge.

"I wanted to create a space where local children and villagers can experience the joy of picking fresh fruit with their own hands," Shamim said. "I am not always at the village, but when I hear that people are coming in groups to enjoy these litchis, it gives me immense satisfaction."

Strikingly, the orchard has no boundary walls, barbed wire, or security netting. It is entirely open not just to humans, but to local birds and wildlife as well. No chemical fertilizers or toxic pesticides are used on the trees.

The orchard, bordered on one side by the scenic Ichamati River, has become a vibrant community hub. Visitors from various professions stop by to enjoy the seasonal fruit, and many are encouraged to take some home for their families.

"I came here after hearing about this extraordinary initiative," said Yad Ali Mridha Pavel, a local media worker. "In this highly commercialized era, opening up a massive orchard for public consumption is a shining example of what is possible when someone genuinely wants to serve the community."

Local schoolteacher Raju Ahmed noted that the initiative has relieved many low-income families from the burden of buying expensive seasonal fruits from the market. "Anyone can walk into the orchard at any time. No permission is required, and no doors are locked," he added.

Recognizing the initiative, Mohammad Nur Alam, Additional Deputy Director of the Pabna Farm House, said, "This is a highly commendable act of generosity. Many low-income people cannot afford seasonal fruits like litchis due to rising market prices. If more affluent landowners followed this example, it would significantly benefit society."

For the residents of Santhia, Shamim's open orchard stands as a unique testament to human empathy, community sharing, and agricultural harmony with nature.