The Iftar Bazaar in the traditional Chawkbazar of old Dhaka is jammed during the holy month of Ramadan. The reputation of the traditional dynastic iftar is not only in the capital but also in the country and abroad. Many does not hesitate to put the name in the list of top 5 iftar markets across the globe.

It is known that even after the end of Mughal rule, Iftar of Mughals remained in old Dhaka.

The Iftar of Chawkbazar in old Dhaka started 400 years ago during the Mughal period. Chawkbazar was known as Badshahi Bazar at that time and since then Chawkbazar has been the most important part of Dhaka.

Dhaka has expanded in all directions. But Chawkbazar did not lose its importance in business terms.

In the evolution of time, the traditional Iftar Bazaar of Chawkbazar has become a festival. In the month of Ramadan, food lovers from far and wide flock to the capital’s Chawkbazar to taste delicious, varied Iftar.

The value of Iftar in Chawkbazar is not only due to tradition but also because of its quality and taste.

Most of the shops in Chawkbazar have to buy iftar standing in line.

The iftar market did not sit for the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. But this year, the iftar market is placed on the road from ‘Urdu Mor’ to the street infront of ‘Chawk Masjid’.

Besides, iftar stalls were also found around Johnson Road, English Road, Koltabazar, Gendariya, Sutrapur Bazar and Wari areas of Puran Dhaka or old Dhaka.

Immediately after noon, the temporary iftar shops on the sidewalk from the permanent hotel are found jammed with various arrangements of bahari iftar.

One of the popular item in the Iftar market is named “Boro Baper Polai Khay, thongai voira loiya jay”. Though it is a very unique and weird name for a food, this is one of the main attractions of the market. The story behind naming of this variety stands as this food is sold in packets, locally known as ‘thonga’, and people buy it in large amounts, it got this unique name.

77 years ago, in 1945, a man started selling this food commercially in the premises of Shahi Jame Mosque. That dish is now known as an attractive iftar item in the whole capital including old Dhaka. This traditional dish is said to be about 75 years old including eggs, beef brain, potato, ghee, raw and dried chillies, beef liver, chicken meat, chicken gila-liver, cotton kebab, minced meat, chira, dabli, boot dal, pumpkin and 24 other types of food items along with spices.

In a large brass dish, everything is smeared well with both hands and then sold in thongas.

There are still many families in old Dhaka who do not have Iftar without it and do not get fullness. Residents of New Dhaka are also becoming interested in this dish day by day. Buyers from different parts of the capital flock to Chawkbazar just for this.

This gigantic iftar bazar also includes iftar dishes like Chicken Kebab, Mutton Leg, Quail-Pigeon Roast, Roasted onions, Rooster Polao, Jilapi, Pesto Almond Syrup, Rooster Musallam, Boti Kebab, Tikia Kabab, Kofta, Chicken Wood Kabab, Suti: Kabab, Quail Bird Roast, Pigeon Roast, Shahi Jilapi, Samucha, Alauddin’s Halua, Halim, Daibora, Labang, Kashmiri Sharbat.