Bashundhara Shuvosangho’s Birganj upazila unit distributed vegetable saplings and seeds among underprivileged ethnic minority families in Dinajpur’s Birganj upazila on Friday, aiming to improve nutrition and promote self-reliance.

A total of 30 families from the ethnic community in East Jagdal of Ward No 9 under Birganj Municipality received seeds and saplings of various vegetables, including bottle gourd, yardlong bean, hyacinth bean, papaya, amaranth, spinach, and sweet pumpkin.

The initiative is designed to encourage home gardening by utilising vacant land around the recipients’ homes.

The impact was immediate and heartfelt. “There’s a lot of empty space around our house. Now we can grow vegetables there. This will greatly benefit our household,” said Basanti Soren, 35, with a smile.

Echoing her thoughts, Sabuj Murmu, 30, said, “These vegetable saplings and seeds are a blessing for poor families like ours. Not only will they meet our nutritional needs, but we can also sell any surplus to earn some extra income.”

Among those present at the distribution were Shuvosangho Birganj upazila unit adviser Sohel Ahmed, unit president and Kaler Kantho Birganj correspondent Farhad Hossain, and executive members Rinki Khatun, Minoti Hasda, and Jannatul Ferdous Akhi.