Chawk Bazaar is a sprawling wholesale market area in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with hundreds of shops, market stalls and vendors. It dates to the 17th century CE when the area was under Mughal rule.[1][2] The bazaar is located in the Chowkbazar Thana part of Old Dhaka.
Beside the market square is Chawk Mosque, built in 1676 by Shaista Khan, the Subahdar of Mughal Bengal. It is 94 feet long, 80 feet wide and has three domes.
Chawk Bazar has a great significance in Bengali culture during Ramadan. While its popularity as a business hub has diminished over the years, Chawk Bazaar is the busiest iftar market. One of the most iconic, and often derided, items is the "boro baper polay khay."[3] Other iconic dishes includes Shahi jilapi, popularly known as "Sunflower Jalebis",[4] Beguni, Piyaju, Keema Paratha, Beauty lassi, Koel roast, Dim chop, Alur chop, Puran Dhaka Haleem, Hajir Biryani, Chickpeas, fruits, Pithas and Mishtis (Bengali sweets) like Sandesh, Roshogolla, Chomchom, Rasmalai, Bakarkhani, Pantua, Chennar Jilapi, etc. In 2023 UNESCO added iftar to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.[5]
