As the sun sets in Cox’s Bazar, the streets and beachfront areas transform into bustling hubs of savory delights, with one supreme dish—Chola Muri. Loved equally by locals and tourists, this tangy and spicy snack is quintessential to the city’s evening charm.
Preparing Chola Muri involves combining puffed rice (muri), boiled chickpeas (chola), fritters such as onion bhaji and beguni, and various fresh salad ingredients. The dish is finished with a sprinkle of spices and a squeeze of lemon juice, creating a symphony of hard-to-reist flavors.
Shahadat Hossain, a seasoned Chola Muri vendor who has been in the trade for nearly a decade, shared, “Chola Muri is everyone’s favorite because it’s incredibly tasty. Many people come in the evenings just to enjoy it. This business has been my sole source of income, and I’ve managed to sustain my family through it.”
Vendors selling Chola Muri can be found in various spots across the city, particularly around the tourist-heavy areas near the beach. Whether visitors enjoy the sea breeze or locals unwind after a busy day, the appeal of Chola Muri is universal. Over time, this humble snack has evolved into a cultural staple of Cox’s Bazar’s vibrant evening scene.
For many vendors like Shahadat, selling Chola Muri is not just a livelihood—it’s a way of preserving a tradition. As this savory treat continues to captivate taste buds, it remains an enduring symbol of Cox’s Bazar’s unique culinary and cultural identity.
By Rajin Saleh
Photo: Rajin Saleh
