Iftar outlets see crowds despite price hike

Despite a notable hike in the prices of iftar items, iftar outlets witnessed a good number of customers in the capital on Tuesday, the first day of holy Ramadan.
The prices of iftar items have shot up by 30-50 per cent this year following the increases in the prices of essentials used for preparing iftar items, said insiders.
Apart from Chawkbazar area, most of the restaurants and fast-food outlets were also busy selling iftar items.
However, the number of makeshift outlets on the footpaths has declined this year amid the drives in restaurants, which put many in trouble to source their iftar in times.
Chawkbazar, the major hub for traditional iftar items in Old Dhaka, was full of its usual festive look on the day.
Hundreds of people thronged there to purchase more than 100 food items put on sale on the first day.
The prices of almost all high-value iftar items have increased by above 30 per cent.
Like the previous years, six outlets were present with their famous 'boro baper polay khay'--- a mixture of chickpeas, brain, minced meat, potato, chira (flattened rice), egg, chicken, spices and ghee.
'shahi doi bora (fried and spiced pulses balls dipped in yoghurt), selling 12 pieces at Tk 180, nearly Tk 20 more than last year.
Talking to the FE, Md Anwar, a cook, said it is sold at Tk 650 a kg this year amid the rocketing costs of beef and other ingredients.
The most popular items of Chawkbazar include giant beef, goat, chicken and duck roasts, koel and pigeon roasts, haalim(a moxed curry of pulses and red meat), dozen of kebabs including suti, jali, irani, tika, chicken suslik, kashmiri etc.
Besides, mutton and chicken cutlet, kima roll (a roll of chopped meat), kima parata, borhani and matha etc were also available with their prices having increased by Tk10 per piece or Tk 120 per kg.

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