Amid soaring prices that have made it difficult for many to afford daily essentials, a tea vendor in Maheshwarpasha, under Daulatpur police station in Khulna, has caught public attention by selling iftar items for just one taka each. The vendor, Iqbal, has been running his tea business in the area for nearly 24 years. Every year during Ramadan, he introduces this initiative, offering iftar items at a symbolic price to help those struggling to afford food.
Iqbal's stall offers a variety of popular iftar items, including beguni (fried eggplant fritters), aloo chop (potato croquettes), piyaju (lentil fritters), and moricher chop (chili fritters), each available for only one taka per piece. The only exception is roasted chickpeas (chola), which he sells by weight at 120 taka per kilogram.
When asked about his motivation, Iqbal explained that he carries out this initiative purely as a social responsibility. In the beginning, he managed everything on his own, but in the past three to four years, local volunteers have stepped in to assist him. These volunteers help prepare and sell the iftar items, working without any financial compensation.
Since the first day of Ramadan, customers have been gathering at Iqbal’s small hotel and restaurant to purchase the affordable iftar. On the first day, he sold iftar items worth 7,000 taka, along with two kilograms of chickpeas. On the second day, March 3rd, the demand increased, with sales reaching three kilograms of chickpeas and 8,000 iftar items.
To meet the high demand, Iqbal and his team begin preparing the iftar items right after Zuhr prayer and start selling them from 4 PM onwards. Residents from the surrounding areas eagerly line up to purchase the low-cost iftar, making the initiative a crucial support for many. Md. Porbot, a businessman who volunteers in the effort, stated that they incur a daily loss of around 1,800 to 2,000 taka. However, this amount is voluntarily covered by Iqbal and his team to keep the initiative running.
The impact of this initiative is significant, especially for families struggling with rising costs. While purchasing a complete iftar meal from other vendors would typically cost a family more than 150 taka per day, Iqbal’s one-taka system allows them to buy a fulfilling meal for just 30 taka. His selfless effort ensures that even those facing financial hardship can enjoy iftar during the holy month of Ramadan.
