Iftar market pulls huge crowds on first Ramadan
The first day of Ramadan witnessed a good sale of iftar items in the capital, with prices being higher than the previous year, which traders attributed to the increase in prices of daily commodities.
However, people did not stop buying their favourite ready-made iftar items from the roadside stalls and posh 5-star hotels, while many of the customers appeared to be dissatisfied with the prices.
Soon after the Friday prayers, Chawkbazar iftar market on Chawk Circular Road in Old Dhaka turned into a bustling hub of Muslim devotees who kept fasting. Fasters from different parts of the city flocked to the makeshift stalls to buy a wide variety of delectable delicacies for their first iftar of the month.
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"Iftar in Old Dhaka has a different charm. That's why I came here to purchase iftar items on the first day of Ramadan," Sohrab Uddin, who went to Chawkbazar from Dhanmondi, told The Business Standard.
"The taste of kebab here is different from any other area in the city," he added.
Md Simon, a resident of Old Dhaka, said, "Even though we arrange iftar at home, it has become a custom to buy food from outside. We strive to fill the table with as many dishes as possible, regardless of our economic status."
However, Simon complained that the prices of iftar items are much higher this year.
Another customer, Ayub Ali from Old Dhaka, said he bought a little less this year as the prices have gone up.
Talking to TBS, traders blamed the increase in the prices of daily commodities for high prices of iftar.
Businessman Mostakim said, "The prices of all daily commodities have increased this year. As a result, we also had to increase the price [of iftar items]."
The prices of iftar items made of beef and mutton have doubled compared to last year, while prices of chicken items went up by Tk20-50 and other items Tk15-Tk30, he informed.
Notable among the iftar items at Chawkbazar are Shahi Parota, Chicken Kebab, Beef Kebab, Boti Kebab, Tikka Kebab, Chicken Kathi, Shami Kebab, Seekh Kebab, Suti Kebab, Regular Jilapi, Shahi Jilapi, Haleem, Yogurt, Kashmiri Sharbat and Khasir Paya.
Shahi Parota was being sold at Tk60-120, Chicken Kebab at Tk40, Beef Suti Kebab at Tk1,400 per kg, Mutton Suti Kebab at Tk1600 per kg, Chhola-Ghughni at Tk300 per kg, Faluda at Tk200 a litre, Jilapi (regular) at Tk200-220 a kg and Shahi Jilapi at Tk300.
Apart from the roadside stalls, posh 5-star hotels such as Sonargaon and Intercontinental also witnessed high sales of iftar items.
In Sonargaon hotel, Jilapi was sold at Tk2,650 per kilogram, Haleem at Tk4,000 per kg and the buffet iftar was Tk5,500 per person.
Iftar and dinner items in the Intercontinental hotel were priced at Tk7,000-8000 per person and also got a good response from customers.
