Gol Chattar is 15 km south-west from Nirala Mor of Sadar Upazila, the center of Tangail city. The west side of the Gol Chattar attaches the banks of Dhaleshri river. Standing here, the sight of various crops growing in the vast pastures rising up in the heart of Dhaleshri is a sight to behold indeed. The river flows north-south.
The main river has narrowed due to overgrazing. During the full monsoon season, even if there is water overflowing the both sides, the grass remains open for most of the year and there are flourishing plantations of different varieties of crops. During the dry season, the water in the main river also dries up tat is used for plantation too.
A little further north-west from the Gol Chattar is the paved road to Makorkol. If you proceed along that road towards Shahjani village of Nagarpur upazila of Tangail, on the right side you will see a vast area of Jamuna being cultivated in high and low places.
Going to Golchattar and Makorkol area of Tangail Sadar Upazila, it can be seen that there is a small amount of water in the main part of Dhaleshri river. Along with it, various crops have been cultivated over a large area. A little above that land is sandy area.
A little higher, crops are being planted spreading green color over a large area. Paddy has been cultivated in low lying areas. Much of the land has already been harvested. Again, the paddy planted in lower areas has started ripening. Sesame, Coriander, Jute, Sugarcane, Dhaincha have been cultivated in a little higher place. In addition to sesame, grass is grown as fodder in some parts of the same land or in adjacent land. Crossing the Gol Chattararea and looking to the right side of the Makorkol road, one can see the view of various crops.
Senior teacher Abu Bakar Siddique of Khasshahjani village of Nagarpur upazila, a resident of Tangail's Jamuna land, said that once there was water in the Jamuna and Dhaleshri rivers for most of the year. During the rainy season, the water overflowed the banks of the rivers. Gradually, the river loses its navigability as the char recedes.
The main river also changes its course. Especially in the last five to six years char has fallen over a large area in the Tangail section of the Jamuna and Dhaleshri rivers. Various types of crops are grown there. There is no water in these places except during the full monsoon.
Iman Ali, a farmer of Karimganj, a village on the banks of the Dhaleshri river, Ayyub Ali of Parabholi village said that even five years ago, there was water in the western part of the Dhaleshri Gol Chattar. Within a few years the char had grown there. There is no water here for most of the year except during the flood. As the soil is good, various crops including rye, mustard, wheat, sesame, linseed are cultivated here.
Sugarcane cultivation and even rice cultivation are done in these places too. Hekmat Ali, an elderly person on the river bank, said that the river breaks and the char wakes up. That pasture is cultivated. These plants do not need water. Plantation is very good because the soil is found fertile.
Agriculturist Farhad Ahmed, writer on agricultural affairs, said that various plants were washed away by river water during floods. They decompose to produce organic manure. After the flood, silt accumulates in the river beds. Organic fertilizers formed due to water fall into the soil. That fertilizer builds nutrients in the soil. That's why various crops are produced well in pastures.
Ahsanul Basar, Deputy Director of Tangail District Agricultural Extension Department, said that the most part of Tangail's grazing area is in Bhujapur, Tangail Sadar, Kalihati, Nargpur and Basail. After the flood, the rabi crop comes with a chance. This possibility arises due to sedimentation. Among these potential crops are maize, sesame, sugarcane, pepper. These crops are grown more in pastures.
He also said that some crops are cultivated to maintain their own traditions. Sesame, Kaun is one of them. Crop cultivation statistics are not done for grazing char areas. It is linked with the statistics of Char concerned upazila. This year, 52,000 metric tons of corn have been cultivated in the district, including Charanchal. Chinese almonds have been planted on 2,320 hectares of land. 4000 metric tons of Chinese almonds have been produced.
Foraged vegetables are very famous produced in the char areas. Vegetables have been cultivated on 10 thousand 755 hectares of land. Forage pepper is also grown very well. Pepper has been cultivated in 1 thousand 92 hectares of land. Char is very famous for sesame seeds too. 3 thousand 500 hectares of land have been molested.
