Dhaka Times Desk At the time of Iftar, Sitara used to stare at the balcony of the mosque. It just seemed like the food mixed with muri, phuluri, dovaja, chickpeas and violets came from a fairyland.' The scene described by the poet Shamsur Rahman is not only limited to the Sitara Mosque of old Dhaka, but the same picture has emerged in every alley of Dhaka. Anam Khasi, Turkey Beef, Kashmiri Sherbat, Arabian Kebabs are added to Muri, Phuluri, Dovaja, Chhola, Beguni and much more!
Like every year, in this year's Ramadan too, Dhaka metropolis is getting busy around Iftar from noon. The Iftar sellers are sitting with hats on their heads. As the day progresses, the number of customers increases. What are the footpaths, what are the five-star restaurants, small and big shops for iftari even in the alleys of the neighborhoods. Iftari stalls have occupied the streets in some places. Traders have taken over the entire sidewalk by placing different colored samiana, bamboo and tables. Competition is going on to make colorful and tasty Iftar items to attract customers everywhere. From noon till the moment before Iftar, the entire capital turns into a bustling Iftar city.
After noon, going to different areas of the capital including Chowk Bazar, it can be seen that the Iftari market of Chowk Bazar has been gathering since 3 o'clock. The smell of Bahari Iftar in Old Dhaka is forcing customers to buy more and more Iftar items. Foodies flock here from different parts of the capital. Uttara, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Shyamoli, Mirpur and many other areas to buy iftari. They said that for several consecutive years, including the first fast, they bought iftar from Chawkbazar almost every day. The food lovers of new Dhaka flock to the Iftari Bazaar of old Dhaka with the greed of many dishes including Dai Bara, Chak's 'Bara Baper Polaya Khay, Thonga Bhoira Liya Jai'. A bank official from Mirpur said after buying this food, 'the price of hobby is eighty tola! No matter the price, it doesn't matter.' Salim Baburchi has a long standing reputation among Chak Iftar. Customers came from far and wide to take iftar from Salim the cook. This time is no exception. Salim Baburchi said, this time as a new item he has brought large size whole chicken roast. Each of these is priced between 800 and 1000 taka. Also, another new Mughal item 'Anam Khasi' is a small-sized whole khasi roast. The price is 4 and a half thousand rupees. Among other items, he is selling quail roast at Tk 80-100 per piece and prawns at Tk 200-250 per piece.
This time 'Descent' has brought several delicious dishes to the iftar market of Chak. Notable among them is Shahi Halim, whose big pot is Tk 300 and small pot is Tk 120. Descent is also selling turkey beef 200, kashmiri sorbet liter 200, nimkopara 20 per piece, muthi kebab 20 each and Arabian kebab 80 taka each. Abdul Jabbar's famous Shahi Daibra is being sold at the counter. 20 curd bowls are being sold at Tk 200.
Other delectable items at Chawkbazar include Dim Chop 15, Kachuri 120 35, Phuluri 2, Samucha 5-10, Panir Samucha 5, Panionu 4-5, Potato Chop 5, Beguni 4-5, Chanabut 130 kg, double kg 50, chicken roast piece 150-180, khasi leg roast piece 300-350 and sausage piece 30 taka. Apart from this, dates, one of the items of Iftar, are being sold at Tk 500-600 per packet this year.
In addition to Chowkbazar, Dhanmondi's Star Kebab, Lajiz, HFC, Fakhruddin, Pintu Miar Shahi Iftari, Kalabagan's Mama Halim, Hothat, Olympia Palace, Ambala, Khajana and other restaurants can be seen bustling. Manu Mia, the owner of Mama Haleem said, like other times, there is a rush of people to buy Haleem. Besides, the Iftari market is also crowded in Bailey Road, Gulshan, Mirpur. Many of the upper classes, however, are more inclined towards the five-star hotels Sonargaon, Rupsi Bangla (Sheraton), Westin and Radisson. Like other places, the scenery of the mosques in the capital Dhaka has also changed during fasting. Preparations for Iftar are going on in the balcony of the capital's mosque just after noon. The busyness of the mosque's muezzin and servants (khadem) with Iftar was eye-catching.
But this scene of Iftari is a very beautiful scene. Everyone is enthralled by the sight of everyone sitting together for Iftari in the mosque. Sometimes it is heard to say among the heathens, 'There is no other religion with so much heart and friendship!'
English 
Bengali