No Man's Land : Tea farming in Indian side

Hazrat Ali of bordering Patgram upazila under the district often observes tea plantations in no-man's land area on the other side of Indian border while his own land in the Bangladesh side is lying unused for years.

"My six bighas of land are lying unused as the land is high and  not suitable for cultivating traditional crops. These high lands are better for growing tea, but it is not possible without the government's initiative and support," said Hazarat Ali, 58, a farmer of Nabinagar area in Patgram.

Many others, including Shafiqul Islam, 48, at Maminpur border and Mazibara Rahman, 56, at Islamnagar border of Patgram are in the same boat as vast lands on Bangladesh's side of the no-man's land are lying idle due to lack of proper initiative from the government.

"The lands across the Indian border are being successfully used for tea farming and it is possible on our lands in the no-man's land area as we have the same kind of soil and weather,” said farmer Shafiqul Islam.

“If the government takes proper step for using lands at no-man's land area like India, it will bring benefit to us,” he said.

"With the help of Indian government, private companies have been farming tea on their side of no-man's land, taking lease of lands from Indian farmers. Around 15 thousand acres of land in the 30 kilometres of no-man's land areas on the other side of Lalmonirhat border is being used for the purpose," said Bangladeshi farmer Mazibar Rahman, referring to growers in Indian side.

“If our government takes step, we will also lease our lands for tea cultivation in the no-man's land areas, as it will benefit us,” he added.

There is a bright prospect of growing crops, especially tea, in Bangladesh side of no-man's land areas, said Noor Alam, Patgram upazila agriculture officer.

"Indian farmers are benefiting by growing tea in their part of no-man's land for the last several years and the same is possible in Bangladesh side. But we need a decision from the government high-ups for the purpose,” said Arif Khan, project director of Bangladesh Tea Board in Lalmonirhat.