Nestled just 8 kilometers east of Natore city, Lakshmipur village in Kholabaria Union has blossomed into Bangladesh’s premier ‘Herbal Village’, thanks to the vision of one man—Afaz Uddin Pagla, a kabiraj who turned tradition into transformation.

What began as a personal pursuit of herbal knowledge, learned from his grandmother and a local teacher, soon became a community movement. In 1995, Afaz Uddin began treating villagers using herbal remedies and soon started growing medicinal plants in his own fields to reduce dependence on wild foraging. Inspired by his success, others joined him, and today, all 160 families in the village are engaged in herbal farming.

From aloe vera to ashwagandha, more than 40 species of medicinal plants are now cultivated commercially over 346 acres. A well-organized wholesale market has emerged in nearby Kholabaria, attracting traders from Dhaka and beyond. Prices are set through participatory discussions between farmers, traders, and local administrators—ensuring fair compensation and sustainable practices.