KHULNA, April 9, 2025 (BSS) - As the sun begins to set over Khulna city, the air around New Market fills with the sizzling aroma of street food. From spicy `Dim Ghuta' to creamy fruit ice creams, this once-quiet corner has turned into a buzzing food haven-drawing thousands daily.

The bustling street food markets, located in front of Baitun-Nur Jame Mosque beside the city's New Market area, began gaining popularity among students and common people during the July-August uprising.

Diverse, yet quality food options, from mouth-watering fast-food items to relaxing beverages, at affordable prices now attract thousands of people to flock around the newly grown market.

With around 100 food stalls in operation, the area starts buzzing with crowds from late afternoon and remains lively until midnight.

A visit to the area yesterday afternoon showed that food carts offered a wide variety of dishes, from fast food like chicken fry, egg omelettes, and Nepali momos, to snacks such as fuchka, chotpoti, and traditional pitha (cake). flavorful biryani and fried rice, along with various types of juice make it a perfect stop for food lovers.

By evening, the narrow alleys gets so packed that customers carefully weave through the crowd, plates of hot momo and fuchka in hand.

Due to affordable pricing and decent quality, these food stalls have become highly popular among low- and middle-income groups, as well as college and university students.

Vendors have introduced special meal packages, like the "7 delicious items for Tk 100" combo, targeting students and middle-class customers. However, the area's quality food at affordable prices is also drawing in higher-income residents.

Abrar Faisal, a chemistry student at Khulna University (KU), enthused, "I come here to eat whenever I get the chance. Sometimes, I come here along with friends, sometimes alone. One of the main reasons I come here is because the food is affordable."

Popular items include Chinese dishes, halim, nihari, tikia, kabab, naga fuchka, and the local favorite "Dim Ghuta" (a spicy egg-based dish).

Snacks like jhalmuri, beguni, puri, aloo chop, egg chop, peyaju, chotpoti, and a variety of fuchka are also widely available. For rice lovers, chicken biryani with basmati rice is priced at Taka 120, while beef biryani is available of Taka 180.

Farukh Farazi, the owner of the Dim Ghuta stall, shared, "I learned how to make this dish in India and began selling it here in Khulna, with prices ranging from Tk 20 to 40. Initially, people tried it out of curiosity, but now they return for its unique flavor."

In addition to local items, western fast foods are also available, including mushroom and chicken pizza, chicken burgers, shawarma, pasta, sub sandwiches, soups, wontons, fries, fried rice, noodles, dosa, and roller-style fruit ice cream. Chicken burgers are sold at Taka 60, while cheeseburgers at Taka 80, and pasta at Taka 70.

Among the various food stalls, the fast food and fuchka stalls attract the largest crowds. According to vendors, each cart sells food worth Taka 7,000 to 8,000 daily.

Ruksana Anjum, a school teacher who came with her family, said, "Food is cooked in front of us, so we can see how it's prepared. That ensures the quality, and the kids love the variety."

Various drinks are also available at the stalls, such as sugarcane juice, tea, coffee, flavoured milkshakes, lassi, and seasonal fruit juices. Drinks like cumin water, lemon drinks, mojitos, and especially tamarind tea have become favourites among regular visitors.

As evening sets in, groups of 15 to 20 students from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) spotted eagerly awaiting their meals.

One of them, Afia Maksud said, "This place offers tasty food at low prices, and we enjoy eating and chatting here after a long day."

Vendors note that people from different parts of Khulna visit the area almost daily. However, during holidays, crowds increase significantly, resulting in better business.

Talking to BSS, Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr Mahfuza Khatun said, that street foods are not unhygienic as they cook maintaining hygenic procedures.

She added that customers should observe the cooking process, ensuring good quality edible oil is used, and the food is fried once and properly covered.