Prices of delicious and traditional food items at Chawkbazar’s celebrated and age-old iftar bazar have jumped by Tk 50-100 this time compared to the prices in last year’s Ramadan.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Old Dhaka, which is also one of the oldest business hubs in the capital city, turns into a human sea every afternoon with hundreds of makeshift shops and stalls inviting people to buy iftar delicacies from their massive array of appetising offerings.
During the visit to the iftar bazar on the first day of Ramadan, it was found that luscious food items are gorgeously put on display at the stalls in front of “Shahi Mosque”, the sight of which is enough to drive one to go for them.
Among their popular traditional varieties of iftar items, Boro Baper Polay Khay made with 12 ingredients and 31 spices, mostly a mixture of chickpeas, minced meat, potatoes, goat brain, flattened rice, egg, chicken, spices and ghee is sold at Tk 700 per kg, up from Tk 600 last year.
The other unique preparation and presentation of spicy food, including Suti Kebab, Shahi Paratha, Singara, Shahi Halim and many such items spreads across the area, trickling one’s nostrils.
Suti Kebab–a Mughal-era food, and one of the most popular and traditional items at Chawkbazar, sells at Tk 1,300 to Tk 1,500 per kg, up from Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,400 per Kg.
Shahi Jilapi weighing up to 2 to 3 kilogrammes is sold at Tk 350 per kg, up from Tk 300, and Shahi Halim is priced at Tk 350 to Tk 1,200, up from Tk 300 to Tk 1,000 last year.
Whole chicken quail and pigeon are sold at Tk 300 to Tk 550 depending on their sizes, up from Tk 250 to Tk 400.
However, potato chop, eggplant and chickpea are being sold at previous prices.
Of the other iftar items, Shahi Paratha sells at Tk 70, up from Tk 60 while Mutton Kofta at Tk 50, up from Tk 40, different types of kebab between Tk 20 and Tk 60.
Besides, the stalls make sale of Bahi Bora or Doi Dobani, Haleem, Kashmir Pasta Badam Sherbet, Labang and many other drinks.
