Engineering Graduate Transforms Rural Farming through Innovative Crowdfunding Model in Dinajpur
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Meshbahul Islam, a civil engineering graduate from the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), has successfully established a sprawling 35-acre integrated agricultural farm in Bamongao village, located in the Biral Upazila of Dinajpur. Despite having no initial capital, Islam launched the venture, branded as “Agro Tortoise,” by utilizing crowdfunding to raise over 10 million BDT. In just three years, the farm has become a profitable model of sustainable agriculture, transforming from a risky startup into a regional hub for innovation and youth employment.
The farm operates on a diverse business model that integrates aquaculture, horticulture, and livestock management. Islam utilizes 10 acres of ponds to cultivate various local and exotic fish species, while another 10 acres are dedicated to crops including bananas, papayas, chilies, capsicum, cucumbers, ginger, and bitter gourds. The operation also includes a cattle farm, duck rearing, vermicompost production, and a nursery that supplies fruit saplings such as lychee, mango, and grapes. The facility employs 15 to 20 daily workers and has already generated over 1 million BDT in revenue from lychee, banana, and bitter gourd sales this season.
Islam’s journey into entrepreneurship began during his university years, where he developed a penchant for business by running a home-cooked meal service and later an online retail business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon completing his civil engineering degree in 2023, he pivoted exclusively to agriculture. Lacking personal capital, he turned to crowdfunding, attracting 37 investors who have collectively provided more than 10 million BDT. These investments are formalized through legal agreements, with profits split equally between the investors and Agro Tortoise. Investors, including university faculty and professionals, have begun receiving dividends, with reported returns ranging from 4 to 15 percent this year.
The farm serves as a center for modern agricultural techniques, utilizing surveillance technology, automated irrigation, and drones for project monitoring. Local officials, including Biral Upazila Agriculture Officer Rumman Aktar, have lauded Islam for his commitment to producing safe vegetables and high-quality seedlings, noting that the agricultural department provides consistent technical support. The success of the project has silenced early critics, including members of his own family and local villagers who initially questioned his decision to pursue farming after obtaining an engineering degree.
Despite the challenges of the startup phase, the project has gained significant credibility. Investors cite trust and the vision of sustainable development as their primary reasons for backing the venture. Looking ahead, Islam intends to expand his operations by developing agri-tourism in the nearby Salban forest area. He also harbors ambitions of establishing agricultural farms beyond national borders, aiming to scale his model of community-funded, technology-driven farming into a larger commercial enterprise.
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