The Dhaka University campus wears a festive look at sun set as numerous students and visitors arrange iftar parities to break their daylong fasting together.
‘It was very special moment for having iftar with senior and junior fellows and teachers,’ a linguistic student Sohan Mia told New Age after his department arranged an iftar party at TSC.
People — both in small and large groups — used to gather on the campus especially on the Teacher-Student Centre premises with traditional food items for iftar.
Approximately 150 small and large Ifatr parties are held every day as peer groups, family and friends and also socio-cultural bodies sit at different spots both in and outside TSC, Curzon Hall, at Mohsin Hall playground, arts and social science faculties’ premises, also in front of female dormitories Samsunnahar Hall and Rokeya Hall.
Former and current students from other institutions like Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka College, Eden College, different private universities, among others, also arranged iftar on the campus.
The whole TSC premises become vibrant with the crowd of young people of different departments of different universities, region-based associations and cultural organisations.
Noted personalities having connections with the organisations usually attend these parties, witnesses said.
Soon after the asr prayers, the roadside vendors and also those at different hall gates do hectic business as students and visitors buy food items such as chhola muri, piaju, beguni, chop, samucha, jelabi etc for their iftar.
‘Our business becomes brisk between asr and magrib prayer,’ said Sahabuddin who had a makeshift shop at TSC.
Meanwhile, many of them also bring some special dishes from home or nearest restaurants.
The makeshift vendors also provide newspapers or small boxes for mixing the items and preparing it before iftar in the open air.
Talking to New Age, the visitors and the students expressed their satisfactions over the iftar party arrangement.
‘It has been a tradition for us to organise an iftar party in every Ramadan,’ said second year student Nuzhat Muary Sarah of linguistics department, ‘Everyone tries to attend the party and it becomes a sort of reunion.’
She expressed her satisfaction over attending the iftar party with her district-based association.
‘We really enjoy the iftar party every year coming to the campus,’ said a fourth year Kamrul Islam of history department.
Also girls were found waiting for their boy friend for breaking the fast together. ‘I have been waiting for my boy friend before asr prayer as I have brought payesh and haluwa from my home for him,’ said second year Sadia Esha of DU political science said.
They termed the month of fasting an opportunity to strengthen bondage of friendship.
-With New Age input
