Retired Television Official Cultivates Extensive Bonsai Collection in Comilla Home

Photo Collected

In the Shubhapur neighborhood of Comilla, an unassuming two-story residence known as “Sahodara” houses one of Bangladesh’s most remarkable private botanical collections. For four decades, retiree Hasan Firoz has dedicated his life to the art of bonsai, transforming his rooftop and courtyard into a living gallery that features more than 500 specimens of varying species.

Firoz, a 70-year-old former director of Bangladesh Television who retired in 2016, began his journey in 1975 after encountering a bonsai during a trip to China. At a time when information on the intricate horticultural technique was scarce and lacked the accessibility of modern online tutorials, Firoz relied on experimentation and persistence to refine his craft. He expanded his collection significantly while working in Chittagong, where he hosted the country’s first solo bonsai exhibitions in 2003 and 2005.

The collection is a masterclass in patience and precision. Some specimens, including a 50-year-old cycad that appears to thrive without traditional soil, represent decades of meticulous pruning and care. Others are sculpted into imaginative shapes, such as a 30-year-old plant resembling a resting camel and a Ficus tree fashioned into the form of an antique key, which Firoz affectionately calls “Nature’s Key.”

While the market value of his individual trees ranges from 5,000 to 500,000 taka, Firoz refuses to part with any of them. He views the bonsai not as commodities, but as extensions of his own life, treating each plant with the devotion one might accord a child. Local historians, including Ahsanul Kabir, describe Firoz as a “bonsai magician” whose efforts have preserved the existence of rare plant species that might otherwise have been forgotten.

Despite his lifelong passion, Firoz faces an uncertain future regarding his collection. With his family members occupied by their own professional pursuits, the veteran enthusiast has expressed concern over who will maintain the delicate ecosystem he has cultivated once he is no longer able. For now, however, Firoz continues his daily ritual of tending to his rooftop garden, finding profound satisfaction in the quiet growth of his miniature forests.