Australia America's Vegetable Now Available in the City

Chittagong Bureau    |    ০২:৪৫ পিএম, ২০২৫-০২-০৯

In the railway market of Pahartali, Chattogram City, a shopkeeper named Saiful has an unfamiliar vegetable arranged in his basket. Upon looking over at the neighboring shop, the same unusual vegetable can be seen there as well. It looks much like a cucumber but is larger in size, weighing between 1.5 and 3 kilograms. At first glance, anyone might mistake it for a long, sweet pumpkin, while some might think it’s a different variety of cucumber. Among the cheaper winter vegetables, this one is a bit more expensive, costing 40-50 taka per kilogram.

However, when a customer asked about the price of the sweet pumpkin, Saiful, the vegetable seller, broke into a smile and corrected the name of the vegetable. He explained that this is not a sweet pumpkin or cucumber. This vegetable is called squash, a foreign vegetable. It grows well in Australia, North America, and the Middle East.

This vegetable is known as zucchini squash, also called courgette. It has been popular and well-known among foreigners for a long time. In Bangladesh, zucchini squash is considered a highly priced vegetable. It has been cultivated in various parts of the country for a few years now. Zucchini is being cultivated in less fertile lands and riverine areas. It also holds good commercial farming potential in other parts of the country.

Saiful, the seller, mentioned that they are the only ones selling this vegetable at the Pahartali market, bringing it from Comilla. However, he pointed out that despite the good taste, the demand for it is low. He said, "Brother, my throat dries up every time I say the name of this vegetable. Since it's uncommon, everyone keeps asking about it. But because the price is a little higher, the customer base is smaller. It's currently selling for 40-50 taka per kilogram."

He further explained, "But those who recognize it, buy it. Some also buy it out of curiosity. Slowly, this vegetable is gaining recognition." A customer named Murad Hasan bought the squash and told his companion, "I had this in Saudi Arabia. It's a very delicious vegetable. It has high demand there."

Another customer, Mujibul Haque, said, "I first saw it at the market, then went home and Googled it. After researching, I found that it has good nutritional value. Since then, I've been buying it. Now, whenever I come to the market, I make sure to buy it."

Agricultural experts say that squash is a winter and foreign vegetable. It is delicious and nutritious, but it's still more common as a vegetable. They also mention that farmers can benefit significantly from cultivating squash, as it yields quickly with low cost and effort.