The traditional Iftari items of Chawkbazar has a distinct appeal to the food connoisseurs. Chawkbazar of old Dhaka is the oldest place for the traditional Iftar market. During the month of Ramadan, the entire road in front of Chawkbazar Shahi Mosque throbs with the bustling sounds of human multitude buying their Iftari items from Iftari stalls spreading from one corner of the road to another. The air of Chawkbazar—popularly known as Chawk becomes redolent with the strong aroma of the piled up heaps of Iftari delicacies laid out on large trays and in bamboo baskets. Chawkbazar has a legendary status attached with it.
Bangladesh is perhaps the only place in the world where you will get the six popular Iftar items – Muri, Piyajuu, Jhal Boot, Beguni, Ghoogni and Alu (potato) or Daal (lentil), Puri (doughnut shaped item made of flour with either potato paste or lentil mixed with it) all are mashed into a single preparation with a little addition of mustard oil and green chillies. It is generally taken from a large bowl as a shared delicacy. Chawkbazar sells a distinctive variety of these mashed assortments by adding minced chicken into it that goes by a grandiose name ‘Boro Baper Polay Khay’ literally meant for rich men’s sons’ consumption). However a silent conflict has been going on regarding the real ownership of this famed Iftari item(Collected)
Md. Rayhanul Islam
Lecturer
Department of Business Administration
