City buzzes with iftar buying

The traditional iftar market at Chawkbazar in Old Dhaka came alive on Thursday, the first day of Ramadan, with crowds filling the main road near Shahi Mosque from noon.

By 3:00pm, vendors were calling out to attract customers, offering items such as "Boro Baper Polay Khay" kebab, lacchi, faluda, doi bora, and more. Many long-standing vendors, including Mohammad Islam from Rahmatganj, have been selling iftar items here for over 30 years.

He said Old Dhaka's iftar tradition is unique and renowned for its quality. Khoka Mia's famous Shahi Doi-Bora and Borhani have been satisfying customers for 38 years.

Prices varied widely across the market. Large restaurants, such as Hotel Amaniya, offered extensive iftar menus, while temporary roadside stalls sold items at different price points.

Popular snacks included pakora, alur chop, and beguni at Tk 10 each; egg chop Tk 20; egg toast Tk 30; and pumpkin toast Tk 15.

Chicken singara and samucha were priced at Tk 15, while jali kebab, chicken cutlet, and boneless chicken fry sold for Tk 30.

Chicken fry ranged from Tk 130-150, while chicken suslick cost Tk 40-80. Vegetable roll was Tk 30-40, chicken roll Tk 50, and chicken shawarma Tk 80-100.

Grilled and roast items were more expensive. Leg roast cost Tk 320, full leg roast Tk 800, full chicken grill Tk 480, quail roast Tk 120, pigeon roast Tk 300, and full chicken roast Tk 420.

For sweets, a small bowl of faluda was Tk 120 and a large bowl Tk 500. Reshmi jilapi was Tk 500 per kg, while regular jilapi cost Tk 280 per kg. Borhani was Tk 200 per litre, labang Tk 250 per litre, and chickpeas sold for Tk 250-280 per kg.

Ahmed Ali from Nowabganj Bazar said the Chawkbazar iftar market has a unique vibe. "Though prices are slightly high, the large crowds show how much people love the food," he noted.

Meanwhile, the Bailey Road iftar market was also bustling, known for tasty and hygienic items.

However, many buyers said prices were beyond the reach of ordinary people. Shops offered chola, chop, beguni, piyaju, jilapi, kebabs, halim, and other sweets.

At Haque Bread Store, chicken paratha cost Tk 60, egg chop Tk 30, and halim Tk 400 per kg.

At "Bailey Iftar Bazar", chicken achari kebab was Tk 340, hariali kebab Tk 350, chicken tikka Tk 320, faluda Tk 150 per bowl, and halim ranged from Tk 600 to Tk 1,200 depending on size.

At a popular outlet, keema paratha was Tk 150, oyster kebab Tk 80, vegetable cutlet Tk 50, chicken onion Tk 40, piyaju and beguni Tk 10, fish ball Tk 100, jali kebab Tk 70, chicken malai kebab Tk 120, barbecue chicken roll Tk 160, chicken onion roll Tk 150, spicy chicken Tk 80, and chicken lollipop Tk 80.

A sales staff of "A One Food" said kebab prices increased by Tk 20-30 due to rising meat costs.

He added that Bailey Road focuses on safe iftar items while maintaining tradition and keeping pace with modern trends.

In Bashundhara, iftar markets also attracted large crowds.

Neela Market (Purbachal Express Highway), Kazi Food Island at 300 Feet Road, Food Club at Parvez Supper Market, Rickshaw Cafe & Garden Restaurants, and Dhakaiya Baburchi offered a mix of traditional and modern food items.

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