Chawkbazar attracts huge crowds despite iftar price hike

The traditional iftar market at Chawkbazar inold Dhaka was teeming with customers on the second day of Ramadan yesterday despite food items being more expensive than in previous years. Old Dhaka resident Faisal Ahmed Bhubon came to Chawkbazar to buy iftar items at around 4pm yesterday. 

"My mother is preparing most of the food at home, but I have still come here to purchase kebabs for all of us as buying iftar from outside is a tradition for us. However, the iftar items are a little more expensive this year," he said.

Rafi Ahmed, who came from Motijheel after finishing his office, said: "It has been a long time since I was last here. Because of Covid-19, I haven't been able to visit Chawkbazar for Ramadan for the past two years. 

“Today I purchased some badam sharbat, doibora, and jilapi. I will also purchase kebabs. Chawkbazar's iftar items have a unique taste that you won't find anywhere else,” he added.

Hasnat Roki, a university student from New Market who came to Chawkbazar for iftar with his friends, said they were excited to eat Boro Baper Polay Khay for the first time. “We have heard about this dish but never tried it before.”

Boro Baper Polay Khay is the most popular Iftari dish in Chawkbazar, consisting of 15 different items (beef, brains, potatoes, chira, chicken, ghee, eggs, almonds, chillies, and so on) and 16 different spices. It is being sold for Tk600 per kg this year, compared to Tk 450-500 in previous years.

According to locals, an Old Dhaka resident named Kamal Mia began selling the platter at the premises of Shahi Jame Mosque about a century ago. It has been sold at Chawkbazar, Nazim Uddin Road, and Shahi Mosque Road since.

The reason behind price hike 

“The price is higher this year as prices of commodities have risen,” said Abdur Rahman, a Boro Baper Polay Khay seller at the Chawkbazar iftar market.

It was difficult to move around Chawkbazar and even more difficult to speak with the sellers because of the volume of customers.

Motaleb Uddin, a 60-year-old who has been selling jilapi at Chawkbazar for the last 30 years, said: “"The price of oil has increased a lot, so we had to increase the price of jilapis as well. We had no choice.”

Mohammad Roni, another food salesman in the area, said: “All the iftar sellers had to raise their prices because of the rising prices of oil and other commodities. However, it seems that we will not face a loss this year as people are coming out of their homes and are no longer afraid of Covid.”

Some sellers said they did not increase the price of their food but had to reduce the quantity in each serving due to the rising prices of commodities.

Faruk Ahmed, who has been selling ghughni in Old Dhaka for almost 10 years, said "If we increase the price, then people won't buy. So, I'm reducing the quantity in each serving to cope with the situation."

Nasir Uddn, a doibora seller, said the same.

"For example, prices of various ingredients of halim have gone up. The price has been adjusted by using less of the expensive ingredients, otherwise many people would not be able to afford this popular food item," he said.

Reshmi jilapi was being sold at Tk300 per kg, normal jilapi at Tk200 per kg, doi bora at Tk200-440 per box, and faluda at Tk100-200 per box, Shahi porota at Tk30-60 per piece, peshta ruti is at Tk70 per piece, and chola ghughni at Tk280 per kg.

On the other hand, beef suti kebab was being sold at Tk1,200 per kg, mutton suti kebab at Tk1,400 per kg, quail roast at Tk80-100, and whole chicken at Tk450.

Pesta sherbet was being sold at Tk200 per litre and borhani at Tk120 per litre.

Meanwhile, police were seen helping iftar sellers control the large crowds.

"Yesterday, the police tried to prevent us from sitting here, but later they allowed us. Today, they didn't tell us anything, and rather were helping us," Jilapi seller Motaleb said.