Cultural personality Atiqul Haque Chowdhury inaugurated the festival where a total of 42 indigenous fruits, including mango, litchi, jackfruit, watermelon, banana and pineapple were put on display.

Bilkis Rahman Dolon, a member of Drishti, said, "We have to encourage commercial fruit cultivation in the country as the indigenous fruits are now at the brink of extinction."

Applying formalin to fruits has become a regular practice in our country which causes serious health hazards to people, she said, urging the authorities concerned to take stern action against the unscrupulous people who use toxic chemicals to ripe fruits.

She also called on the government to take measures to plant fruit trees in different places and beside the roads in the city.

Sammilita Nagorik Jote General Secretary Golam Kuddus, Drishti President Mosharraf Hossain, Shadhin Bangla Betar artist Bulbul Mahalanabis, folk singer Fakir Alamgir and singer Iffat Ara Nargis also spoke.