Satkhira sweets widely famed across country

OUR CORRESPONDENT
SATKHIRA, July 06: Satkhira's various sweets including Sandesh, Swarpuri, Pera Sandesh and curd have a good reputation across the country for their uniqueness in taste as well as quality.
When talking about sweets here, the names of Fakir Mistanna Bhander, Sagar Sweets, Bhagyakul, Lakeview and Sweets Haven come to mind first.
Large-scale supplies of Sandesh, Sharpuri, Pera Sandesh and curd go from these shops all over the country.
At the same time, these shops can also highly boast other varieties of sweet produced by them- namely Rasmalai, Kusumbhog, Jamrul and Golap Jam.
Artisans here make sweets of different flavors and colours that attract customers of all types and ages.
Amidst all sweets, Satkhira's Sandesh stands splendid.
Sandesh made with Nolen Gur (jaggery) has more taste than Sandesh made with sugar; so the demand is double.
Highly delicious Fakir Sandesh of Fakir Mistanna Bhander has prominently occupied the sweet market since long.
Ghulam Mohammad Fakir Ahmed established Fakir Mistanna Bhander in 1947 at Nazmul Sarani in Satkhira town.
Within a few days, Fakir's dessert store became widely popular across the country and even in several other countries including India.
At present, sweets of the Fakir brand are being sold in two shops named Adi Fakir Mistanna Bhander and Fakir Mistanna Bhander.
Sandesh, Swarpuri, Pera and curd produced by the district's traditional sweet makers Fakir Mistanna Bhander, Sagar Sweets and Bhagyakul Sweets are immensely supplied all over the country. Also the sweets produced at Matrivhandar, Jaihun Dairy Shop, Sushil Moira, Saha and Noor Sweets are unique in taste.
Sweet shops under the brand name of 'Satkhira Ghosh', established by the Ghosh community of Satkhira, have presence in almost all the districts of the country.
The demand for Rasmalai, Kusumbhog, Chhanar Jilapi, Jamrul, Golap Jam, Mouchak, Balish Chamcham, Danadar, Dudh Malai, Kheer Sandesh, Rasgolla and curd produced in these shops is also high.
At the same time, another businessman named Sheikh Abdur Rashid established Hotel Sagar at Shahid Kajal Sarani in Satkhira town. Sagar Mistanna Bhander is also known all over the country and even India. No one can forget about Sandesh or Swarpuri of Sagar.
At present, Bhagyakal Sweets is sending curd and other sweets commercially across the country.
Bhagyakul Sweets' Satkhira town showroom manager Mostafa said they sell Sandesh at Tk 360 per kg, Swarpuri, Gur Sandesh, Rasmalai, Porabari, Kheertost at Tk400 per kg, Dudh Sagar at Tk500 per kg and Jamrul and Rosgolla at Tk300 per kg.
Sweets Haven owner Shah Alam said he prepares at least 30 items of sweets by trained artisans in his own factory and sells them in the shop.
He said Satkhira's sweets have a reputation throughout the country even though the business condition becomes worse during the summer.
He said Jhara Sandesh of his shop has a high demand, the price of which is Tk 400 per kg. Also, Sweets Gel, Malaisor, Baktoast sell at Tk560, raw sana at Tk450, Cutlet at Tk350 and Kamalabhog and marble sweets sell at Tk260 per kg.
Fakir Sweets' manager Zahidul Islam said, "Our factory produces 300 to 450 kilograms of milk sweets every day. All the sweets are sold out immediately after production. But to keep the reputation intact, sweets are not sold wholesale or commercially. We use raw cow's milk in sweets. Do not add anything else to it."
Adi Fakir Mistanna Bhander' director Badiuzzaman said, "My uncle is the founder of Fakir Mistanna Bhander in Satkhira town. After his death his sons continue the business with good reputation."
Fakir Sweets' manager Zahidul Islam said, "We sell Sandesh at Tk370 per kg. Besides, Jamrul, Golapjam, Chamcham, Baby Sweets sell at Tk320, Swarpuri and Khir Sandesh at Tk 420, Catlet at Tk450 and Pera Sandesh at Tk370 per kg."
Satkhira is one of the highest milk producing districts of the country.
The easy availability of milk has played a unique role in the production and development of sweets in the district.
Satkhira District Restaurant Owners Association General Secretary and owner of Adi Sagar Sweets Abul Kalam said, "Satkhira's sweets have a good name across the country. We are also trying to maintain standard."
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