On the seashore of Cox’s Bazar, vendor Asaduzzaman neatly displays a selection of unique fruits for sale. When tourists spot the unfamiliar fruit, curiosity prompts them to ask for its name.
Asaduzzaman introduces it as ‘Omgula’ in the local dialect, explaining that it resembles the inner flesh of a palm fruit.
Despite being known locally as Omgula, the fruit comes from the Golpata mangrove plant, a species of palm.
It is even more nutritious than regular palm fruit and is believed to help relieve body pain, manage diabetes, and treat skin conditions.
Moreover, consuming it has a cooling effect on the body.
While coastal communities traditionally use the Golpata tree’s leaves for roofing, they also enjoy the fruit as a casual treat.
However, this fruit remains largely unknown to the broader public beyond the Sundarbans region. Thanks to Asaduzzaman’s efforts, the Golpata fruit is gaining popularity among tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar nationwide.
Asaduzzaman told the Cox’s Bazar Life that he sourced the fruit from the local market and enjoys it himself, which inspired him to introduce it to tourists.
By Rajin Saleh
