After losing her job, she built a thriving plant nursery: the green journey of Jashore’s Nur Shahana Koli

Nur Shahana Koli is a true tree lover. The story of this woman, who tends her plants with deep affection, is not only that of a successful entrepreneur — she never gave up her struggle against insult, deprivation and adversity.

A resident of Puratan Kasba in Jashore city, Nur Shahana Koli began working at a private organisation after completing her bachelor’s degree. Her familiar career of 25 long years was suddenly cut short during the Covid pandemic. After losing her job, as she spent idle time confined within four walls, she turned to her childhood love — indoor plants. She began by preparing saplings at home and selling them in pots.

That work has now grown into a profitable and promising enterprise. She now buys and sells plants worth four to five lakh taka a year. Five people have found employment in her garden and plant showroom.

The path behind Nur Shahana Koli’s green success was not smooth at all. Having no land of her own in Jashore, she rented other people’s land for her garden and had to change location four times. With her balcony, roof and courtyard full of plants, many people in the city refused to rent to her.

Obstacles also came in arranging finance. She went to the doors of several banks in the city trying to expand her business, but got no loan. Eventually she received help from an official of Bangladesh Bank. A private bank did lend her two lakh taka, but angered by the conditions and insulting remarks of the guarantor, she repaid the loan within just six months.

Not all her experiences were bitter, however. Later, an official of Krishi Bank approved a loan of five lakh taka for her. She still remembers that event with deep gratitude.

Through much struggle and hard work, Koli has become a unique example today. She has set up her own showroom to sell saplings. Her collection holds 150 to 200 varieties of plants, including Erika palm, Rapis palm, 30 types of Kathgolap, green and red ZZ plants, bamboo from Thailand and attractive plants like Bird of Paradise. There are also 30 to 35 species of long-lived cactus and varied medicinal saplings. These saplings are prepared in a fully organic method, using the nutrients of vegetable peels, cocopeat, eggshells and bone meal.

The most surprising aspect of Koli’s business is her plant rental service. She rents plants on contract to the offices of seven banks in Jashore city. Her workers visit once or twice a month to replace old plants with fresh, healthy ones. Her plants are also in great demand for decorating stages at various events.

Koli has married off her two children; now her time is spent caring for her plants. Her success has brought her honours and three Brikkhamela awards. She has received training and a financial grant from a bank.

Along this journey, Nur Shahana Koli has had to face people’s jealousy and ugly mindsets. Many people destroyed her beloved plants again and again. Once, poison was used to kill all her plants. That is why she had to change the location of her small garden four times.

Nur Shahana Koli said, “Had I not taken up this green initiative, I perhaps would not have come to know the people around me so well. I have seen how envious people can be of someone’s success. Many people destroyed my plants. Once they killed all the plants with poison. That is why I had to change the location of my small garden four times. But when I see my plants growing fresh and healthy and flowers blooming, all the pain fades away. I now tell people: make green plants your friends. It makes the mind feel much better.”

Setting aside the many pulls and pressures of life and social deprivation, she has found her true dignity and path to freedom in this green kingdom built on her love for plants.