Over 400 families of Bogura’s Sherpur upazila are dependent on the yoghurt business, which is famous across the country and abroad.
Recently Bogura’s yoghurt has received Geographical Indication (GI) status, making it one of 15 products of the country to have this.
The trade began over 150 years ago; currently, there are over 200 yoghurt shops and factories in the district. Each shop sells about 300-400 kg of yoghurt daily, making it a thriving business.
Although the price used to be Tk 1.25 per kg when the trade first gained popularity, nowadays it sells for Tk 180 per kg and upwards depending on quality.
Related sources expect the industry to expand further and exports increased due to its GI status.
Social Worker Abdus Sattar of the upazila said Bogura’s Sorar Doi (yoghurt made in a special clay bowl) is famous all across the country.
“Many yoghurt factories and shops have been built in Bogura centring the trade. More than 400 families are involved in those businesses that have been established throughout the district,” he said.
He further added that with the recent acquisition of GI status, the trade of Bogura’s yoghurt is expected to expand further.
President of Bogura Press Club Momin Rashid Sain said although yoghurt is produced in other districts or regions of Bangladesh, the fame of Bogura’s yoghurt’ is extensive due to its mouthwatering flavourful taste.
The history
The production of yoghurt began about 150 years ago by Nilakantha Ghosh of Sherpur’s Ghoshpara. The Ghosh family is famously known for their sweet trade.
Later, under the patronage of Pakistan’s former prime minister Mohammad Ali’s father Nawab Altaf Ali Chowdhury, Shri Gaur Gopal Pal, one of the residents of Ghoshpara, Sherpur, started yoghurt production in Bogura town.
At present, his two sons, Sree Bimal Chandra Pal and Sree Swapan Chandra Pal, are running the old shop named Sree Gaur Gopal Dadhi and Mistanna Bhandar at Nawabbari Road.
According to Swapan, Muhammad Ali had been fond of their yoghurt and used to get it for his parliament members.
The fame of Bogura’s yoghurt first spread in England in 1938. Early that year, Sir John Anderson, the then British Governor of Bengal, visited Bogura’s Nawabbari (estate of Nawabs) and was served yoghurt.
He was given a special yoghurt prepared in a glass container. Due to its enticing taste, Governor Anderson wished to export it to England.
Nimai Ghosh of Sherpur told The Business Post that they are the descendants of the original yoghurt makers in Bogura. In response to a question, he said that they have been involved in the yoghurt business for the past 140 years.
“My relative Gopal Chandra Ghosh has a shop called Sampa Dadhi Bhandar in Sherpur. Their special yoghurt is sold at Tk 200 per kg. An average of 400 kg of yoghurt is sold every day,” he said.
He further added that apart from selling yoghurt in different districts of the country throughout the year, they also export it to different Western countries in winter.
Abdul Momin, the owner of sweetshop Super Saudia in the upazila, said their family had been in the business since 1983. They sell 300 to 400 kg of yoghurt every day at Tk 180-220 per kg.
“We regularly export our yoghurt to Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar apart from selling it at our own shop. Some 200 families of Ghoshpara are involved in yoghurt making and selling business,” he added.
Bogura Yogurt is unmatched in taste and quality as the producers follow special procedures at every stage of the production process as well as being careful in quality control.
