Bakarkhani still popular in old Dhaka

Many old Dhaka residents have bakarkhani even now for their breakfast. This traditional snack is still famous for its quality and taste to the people of the old part of the city.

Aminul Islam, living in old Dhaka, said he eats bakarkhani everyday for his breakfast.

“I can’t go without it even for a single day and it tastes delicious when you have it with tea,” he told this correspondent at an exhibition.

This traditional food item of old Dhaka was put on show on Saturday to celebrate the 400 years of Dhaka.


Dhakabashi, an organisation working to sustain the tradition of old Dhaka, organised the event titled “Prime Bank Bakarkhani Pradarshani” in association with Prime Bank Limited at the National Press Club in the city.


Various kinds of bakarkhani bread including cheese bakarkhani, sugar bakarkhani and curd bakarkhani were on display to get city dwellers acquainted with this food item. Besides, different kinds of sweets were also on display.


President of the organisation Mohammad Shukur Salek said they hold this type of exhibition every year.


“Some traditional food items of old Dhaka including bakarkhani are sinking into oblivion. And the purpose of the event is to familiarise the new generation with this food,” he said.


Saiful Islam, a resident of Banani, said he is very happy to be here in the show.


“Those living in the new town know a little about this tasty food. Through this event, people who are not familiar to this bread will have a chance to be acquainted with this food item,” he said.


“And I want that this type of event be organised every year,” he added.


Bakarkhani is available in almost everywhere in old Dhaka. This crispy bread looks round, which is made of flour, salt, oil and water mixed together and then baked in a large earthen oven.


According to historians, this food item first came into existence in the middle of eighteenth century in Dhaka.


People say Aaga Baker, a landlord of Barisal in between 1741 and 1754, was the pioneer of this food item. Though Baker was a landlord of Barisal, he lived in Dhaka and bakarkhani was named after him.


At the exhibition, Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman, Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Culture Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, Managing Director of Prime Bank Limited M Ehsanul Huq, Secretary General of the organisation Sheikh Khoda Bokhs, Vice President Shirin Sultana and advisor Sohrab were, among others, present.