At Ramadan, every day, thousands of people made their way to the traditional iftar market at Chawk Bazar in Old Dhaka to buy tantalising iftar dishes. Chawk Bazaar was called Badshahi Bazaar in Mughal times. Still, every Ramadan remembers the eminent memory of Mughal iftar. Chawkbazar’s signature iftar dish “boro baper polay khay” worth 350Tk is a mixture of chickpeas, finely chopped beef, chicken, potatoes, brains, flattened rice, egg, chicken, hot spices, and ghee. Other well-known dishes include giant beef, chicken and mutton roasts, pigeon and koel roasts, kima roll, kima paratha, borhani, and different types of kababs including Shami, Suti, Jali, Irani and Tika. Shahi jilapi, fried chicken, rosh bori, and doi bora are some of the rather unusual items available in the market. In addition, there are seasonal fruits, local drinks, and a variety of pickles up for sale in the market.
PHOTO AND STORY BY RASHEDUZZAMAN