Nipa Palm fruits collected from the Sundarbans are now being sold along the footpaths of Cox’s Bazar beach, drawing the attention of both tourists and local residents.
Wrapped in brown shells, the forest-grown fruits—locally known as golpata phol—are selling at Tk20 per piece.
A visit to the area reveals small baskets neatly arranged with fruit along the beachside footpaths, where curious buyers stop to take a closer look. Sweet-tasting and slightly crunchy, the fruit is attracting many as a new and natural food experience.
Fruit vendor Abdul Karim said the palm fruits are sourced directly from the Sundarbans. “As a natural forest fruit, it has high demand among tourists. We sell each piece for Tk20, and sales are excellent throughout the day,” he said.
Rashed, a buyer at the beach, said he had heard of the fruit before but never tasted it. “I saw it here today, and the price is reasonable. Since it’s a natural fruit, I decided to buy a few out of curiosity,” he added.
Vendors said the sale of forest-grown and traditional fruits increases during the winter and peak tourist season in Cox’s Bazar. While introducing visitors to the natural produce of the Sundarbans, the trade also creates an additional source of income for small footpath vendors in the tourism hub.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
