Palm tree plantation

The recent attempt of planting palm trees in different regions of Bangladesh by a few individuals and organisations will go futile as the weather and soil condition of our country are not congenial for such plantations and this very fact is known to our experts and the forest department. A real life picture of palm trees bearing very ordinary fruits can be visualized on a trip to Sylhet in the forests located by the side of highway which does not contain the material for either soap or edible oil. Frequent rainfall all over the year, which is the very basic necessity for the productive growth of palm trees, is absent in our country. As a result, it is unlikely for us to grow palm trees for the production of edible oil.
I am happy to see the advertisement in The Daily Star, dated December 06, 2009, regarding “1st Malaysia --Bangladesh Palm Oil Trade Fair and Seminar 2009” that was reportedly held on 12 December in Pan Pacific Sonargoan Hotel. The seminar was a good one, so far as trade & marketing of palm oil between Bangladesh & Malaysia goes. But in the highlights, a subject like “Scope for Oil Palm Plantation in Bangladesh” has scared me as plantation of palm oil plants by all standards is not feasible in Bangladesh.
I am afraid wondering about a situation where a person taking a summary in favour of palm tree plantation goes to a bank and takes a loan for the same plantation project which will result in bank default as well as spoil the agricultural land of Bangladesh.
The Malaysian oil corporation office in BD invites at least 6-7 Bangladeshi experts every year to see their palm tree plantations and learn about its usefulness, which according to them is very useful for health and heart. Naturally in those visits every year, delegates from Bangladesh put a question regarding plantation of palm trees in Bangladesh as we have a small period of rainfall in our region. The reply is that a plantation is possible but not at all viable as such rainfall will allow the trees to bear only one fruit which will not contain necessary ingredients to produce oil. A palm tree bears three fruits in a year and as such it is not viable in Bangladesh. Palm trees can only be produced in Malaysia, Indonesia and some Caribbean countries where there is adequate rainfall over the year.
I believe that the forest department will make necessary clarification in this regard on the basis of the facts which I have given above.