The popular food of the hilly district is bamboo sticks
Ashim Roy (Ashwini) Bandarban, Correspondent:
Bamboo cords are being sold at Madhyampara Marma market in Bandarban city. A popular dish among the small ethnic groups of the Chittagong Hill Tracts is the bamboo stick. However, it has become popular among local Bengalis and tourists as well as vegetable and various food ingredients. Several species of bamboos including Muli bamboo, Dolu, Mitingya, Farua, Bajje, Kalichuri bamboo are available in Bandarban. Only the young bamboo growing four to five inches from the ground was harvested.
Different varieties of bamboo shoots have different taste. Different communities of Chittagong Hill Tracts, including Chakma, Marma, Tripura, have their own recipes for eating bamboo sticks. As a vegetable, bamboo shoots are eaten with curry or bhaji and dried.
Apart from these, it can be eaten as soup, mundi, cooked and fried with meat. As a variety of food in various Pahari restaurants, Bamboo Kodal is popular among Pahari and Bengalis. It has already become a favorite dish among tourists visiting Bandarban from different parts of the country. Not only that. Bamboo whips are now available to buy in Dhaka as well.
In addition, various delicious bamboo rope dishes are available in mountain restaurants of Dhaka. Bamboo cord is called Mehang in Marma, Mewa by Tripura, Bachchuri in Chakma and Bachchui in Tanchangya Bamboo cords are available from May to the end of October. At this time, its demand and price in the market is slightly higher. During the season, local residents sell bamboo cords in different markets of Bandarban. Madhyampara Marma Bazar in Bandarban city.
Many people also call it mug market. Shiuli Tanchangya, Sucharita Tanchangya and Madhuri Marma, who came to sell bamboo cords in this mug market recently, said that they brought about 150 bundles of bamboo cords to the bazaar on Sunday and Wednesday. They are sold at the rate of 60 to 100 taka per bundle during the season. In addition to the mug market, bamboo cords are available for purchase at weekly markets on Mondays at Alikadam and Ruma in Bandarban and daily at Rowangchari.