Herbal drink: An innovation

There are a good number of people in urban and rural areas who like to have a glass of herbal drink to regain energy in hot weather.

Reading people's need for such drinks sixty-five-year-old Yakub Ali has gained solvency for his family by selling herbal drinks in Kurigram town.

Nearly two decades ago, Yakub, a resident of Goraye village under Durgapur union in Ulipur upazila, used to run a nursery business at the village to maintain his nine member family.

About 15 years ago, one Afzal Hossain, a gardener of Rangpur Collectorate Office, and also owner of a small nursery in Rangpur town, came to visit Yakub's nursery and advised him to produce herbal medicine plants at his nursery beside the other plants. 

According to his advice, Yakub started producing various herbal medicine plants at his nursery.

One summer, Yakub came up with an innovative idea. He first prepared a drink mixing various herbal ingredients like bel (wood-apple), ishapgull, talmakhna and sugar and a little salt and started selling the item at different local markets on a moving van.

“I earn Tk 1000 on average per day by selling the drinks” Yakub said.

“I managed to save some of my earnings and bought 60 decimals of land and built a tin-shed house”, he said, adding, “I had to spend a handsome amount during the marriages of my three daughters and two sons.”

Yakub said Raju Mia, 24, younger among his two sons, assists him in his business while his elder son Shafiqul Islam, 26, has been running the business in Rangpur town for the last two years.

Earlier, Yakub used to sell the drinks at three different points in the town, while he sells it in Paura Bazar area now. 

Police constable Sree Bikash Paul said “I have been taking the herbal drink for quite a long time as I get instant energy from it.”