As the holy month of Ramadan continues, the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar are witnessing a vibrant display of roadside food stalls selling a variety of traditional snacks for iftar. Every evening, as the sun begins to set, Rohingya men, women, and even young children line the narrow paths of the camps, offering homemade delicacies to fellow refugees who are fasting.
Despite the challenges of life in the refugee camps, the spirit of Ramadan is alive as families prepare special iftar items to sell and share. Many of these vendors are struggling to make a living amid food ration cuts, and selling snacks has become a small but crucial source of income.
Among the most popular snacks being sold are peazu (lentil fritters), beguni (deep-fried eggplant slices), samosa (fried pastry filled with spiced potatoes or meat), and muri makha (a spicy puffed rice mixture with onions, chilies, and mustard oil). Some families also prepare sweet dishes like shemai (vermicelli dessert) and balushahi (a crispy, sugar-coated doughnut-like treat). The aroma of freshly fried pakoras and samosas fills the air as people eagerly buy their favorite items before the azan (call to prayer) marks the time to break their fast.
A Rohingya vendor, Hamida Begum, who sells peazu and beguni near Camp 4, said, “We don’t have much, but during Ramadan, we try to keep the tradition alive. Selling these snacks helps us buy extra food for our children.”
Many of these makeshift stalls are set up using simple tables or even plastic sheets on the ground. People purchase food with the little money they have, while others rely on donations from fellow refugees and humanitarian organizations. Some community members also distribute free iftar meals to those who cannot afford to buy.
However, vendors face difficulties, including restrictions on movement, lack of ingredients, and occasional crackdowns on informal businesses inside the camps. Despite these challenges, the resilience of the Rohingya people is evident as they continue to find ways to sustain themselves and keep their culture alive.
As Ramadan progresses, the spirit of generosity and survival remains strong in the refugee camps, where even in difficult times, the tradition of sharing food and kindness brings people together.
