Aromatic spices fill the air as traditional Chawkbazar iftar market – the largest and most attractive iftar market – was abuzz with all sorts of commercial activity.
Unlike every year, hundreds of fasting residents thronged the traditional iftar market at capital’s old town on Wednesday to buy delicious iftar items on the second day of Ramadan.
Traditional specialties include ‘Boro Baper Polay Khay’, melt-in-your-mouth goat leg kebabs and ever-popular ‘suti kebabs’ take the centre stage, are drawing eager buyers from across the capital.
On the second day of Ramadan, vendors are seen in makeshift shops in front of Shahi Masjid of Chawkbazar selling delicious whole goat leg kababs, Suti kebabs, muthi jali kababs, jali kababs, nargi chap, tika kababs, egg chops, curd bara, pigeon and quail roast, haleem, nurani lachi, pistachio sherbet, parota, potato chops, chickpea, bhugni, bombay and shahi jilapi.
This bazaar, known Chawkbazar Iftarpara, as has been sitting in front of the Chawkbazar Shahi Mosque since the Nawab period after the Zohar prayers.
The shopkeepers are calling the customers by shouting ‘Boro Baper Polaya Khay, Thongay Bhoira Loiya Jai’, ‘This is the original Delhi kababs’, ‘Nawab eats kebab’ and ‘The best kebab in Chowk Bazar’.
Farhan Biswas, a college student from Babubazar said, that being a resident of old Dhaka, everyone in the house likes to eat Iftar of Chawkbazar. So I have to come sometimes. I have bought a lot though the high price.
Aqib Islam, who came to buy iftar from Dhanmondi, said, I came here at the beginning of Ramadan. Today I took 3 whole goat leg kababs, and 5 pigeon roasts. There are plans to come a few more times in the future.
On the second day of Ramadan it is seen that, shopkeepers are selling Grill per piece at Tk80, Suti Kebab Tk1400 per kg, whole goat leg kababs Tk800, Dudh Naan Tk60 to Tk100, Vegetable Naan Tk80, white Parata Tk30, Minced Parata Tk60, Tengri Kebab Tk80, Shik Kebab Tk120, ghol per Liter Tk100, Beef Biryani Tk350, Beef Haleem Tk200 to Tk800, Whole Quail Roast Tk100, Chalta and Mango Pickle Tk400 per kg, Ghee Fried Jilapi Tk200 per kg and Mega Jillapi is being sold at Tk350 per kg.
Besides, another important item on the Iftar list during Ramadan is fruits. By inspecting the fruit market, it can be seen that Bungee is Tk200 to 300 a peach, Pineapple Tk50 to 80 a piece, Orange Tk250 to 280 a kg, Grapes Tk300, Pomegranate Tk250 to 300 a kg, Malta Tk350, Pears Tk300, and apples Tk250 to 300 a kg. Coconuts were selling at TK100-140 piece, lemon at Tk40-130 per Hali (four pieces), cucumber per kg Tk80, Aegle marmelos per peace Tk70, and guava at Tk80 per kg.
Assistant Commissioner of Chawkbazar Police Station Ziyad, also a member of the bazar monitoring team, said “We are monitoring the iftar market all the time and trying to keep the footpaths surrounding the market clear. We will be active throughout the month”.
