Every Wednesday is a special day for the indigenous communities living in the hills, as a vibrant weekly market comes to life at Sonarpara Bazar in Ukhia Upazila, Cox’s Bazar.
On this day, indigenous people descend from the surrounding hills, carrying a variety of homegrown vegetables and agricultural produce, turning the market into a lively hub of trade and interaction.
A visit to the market shows indigenous vendors neatly displaying hill bananas, banana blossoms, potatoes, and different kinds of leafy vegetables. Grown with care on hill slopes, these fresh produce items draw considerable attention from buyers.
An indigenous vendor, Trung, said that they come to Sonarpara Bazar every Wednesday to sell vegetables cultivated in the hills.
‘Local Bangali people buy our vegetables here. After selling our produce, we purchase our necessary household items from the same market and then return to the hills,’ he said.
As Trung spoke, he observed several local residents haggling over hill bananas. They identified themselves as permanent residents of Sonaichhari village and said they regularly buy vegetables directly from indigenous sellers on market days.
Nur Islam, a local resident, said that vegetables grown by indigenous communities are much fresher and comparatively cheaper.
‘Whenever the weekly market is held, we buy whatever we need from them,’ he added.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
