CHUADANGA, Jan 18 (UNB): In the middle of winter, trading activity has surged at the historic Sarojganj date molasses market in Chuadanga, one of Bangladesh's most renowned traditional haats for palm jaggery, with the aroma of freshly boiled sap filling the air.
Nearly 300 years old, Sarojganj Haat sits twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, and during the peak season now records transactions worth more than Tk one crore weekly.
On each market day, sales range between Tk 1.5 million (1.5 crore) and Tk 20 million (2 crore). If the current momentum continues, total transactions this season are expected to reach Tk 500-550 million (50-55 crore), according to local traders.
A visit to the haat presents a vibrant tableau of rural commerce. Earthen pots brimming with liquid jaggery line the stalls, while freshly made nolen patali are neatly stacked alongside newly produced molasses displayed in bamboo baskets and wooden frames. Buyers and sellers engage in animated bargaining, their calls echoing through the market.
Renowned for its distinctive taste, rich colour and natural aroma, Sarojganj's date molasses enjoys strong demand across the country.
Retail prices currently range from Tk 230 to Tk 350 per kilogram, depending on quality. Earthen pots weighing between 12 and 16 kilograms sell for Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,600, while different varieties of nolen patali fetch between Tk 300 and Tk 430.
Molasses collected from the haat is supplied to a wide network of districts, including Dhaka, Kushtia, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, Pabna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Barishal, Sylhet, Khulna, Mymensingh, Magura, Rajbari and Panchagarh.
Sazzad Hossain, a molasses producer from Sarabaria village in Chuadanga Sadar upazila, said the jaggery is prepared using traditional methods passed down through generations.
"Sap collected from date palm trees is boiled in traditional ovens using tin strainers.
When the sap thickens, it is stirred continuously to make molasses. We have been producing pure jaggery using this age-old method for generations," he said.
