\\\'Porabarir Chamcham\\\' still enjoys its unmatched popularity

TANGAIL, Apr 28: 'Porabarir Chamcham' of Tangail is famous for its popularity all over the country for its unique taste and matchless flavour. At the end of 19th century, Dasharath Gour, an expatriate from Bihar, started making them. It is said that he was the first sweetmeat maker in this village.

The Porabari area, about five kilometres west of Tangail town, was a small but busy river port in 19th century where goods-laden steamers and launches used to anchor. People from home and abroad would get down from the vessels at Porabari for trading. The chamcham produced by Dashrath Gour went to different places in Indo-Pak subcontinent through the traders and its wonderful taste won the hearts of all.

Following Dashrath, about 200 families started producing chamcham in Porabari and set up over 40 shops at the market within few years.

At present the main market of the sweetmeat is in the town area named Pachani Bazar, which is situated at the middle of the town. About 50 shops are displaying chamcham at their shops. Joykali Mistanna Bhandar is a one of the famous shops of the market. Shapan Ghosh, owner of the shop and president of 'Misti Baboshayee Samiti", said everyday about 40-50 maunds of chamcham are sold at this market.

Gour Gosh, 75, veteran chamcham trader in Tangail, said the price of milk was once so cheap that a big pot of milk was sold at 3 paisa to 5 paisa while chamcham was sold at 8 ana per kg. During 1940, per kg chamcham was sold at Tk 1.0 only.