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'Sutli Kebab' now dearer in old Dhaka
Refayet Ullah Mirdha
10/14/2005
The price of 'Sutli Kebab,' a traditional old Dhaka delicacy, has increased due to onset of Ramadan month as spices needed to prepare the food item have become expensive.
Shah Mohammad Ali Hossain, a trader at the city's Chawakbazar, said beef Sutli Kebab was selling between Tk 160 and Tk 180 per kg compared with its last year's price between Tk 130 and Tk 140 per kg.
Mutton Sutli was selling between Tk 240 and Tk 260 per kg compared to its last year's price between Tk 220 and Tk 230 per kg, Ali said.
But, the mouth-watering Sutli Kebab is set to lose its traditional value as a delicacy due to professional relocation of its original makers over the years, the traders said.
When asked, Ali said the sale volume of the item remained the same despite price hike during this Ramadan.
"Every day I can sell at least one maund of the Kebab and there are six to seven Sutli Kebab traders in entire Chawakbazar area," Ali said adding that those who are fond of this item they do not care about the prices.
This business is a traditional one and everybody can not prepare the Sutli Kebab, as it needs some particular skills and ingredients, traders said.
Sutli Kebab, previously known as 'Basna' (fragrant) kebab for its extra-ordinary flavour has lost its original taste due to increase in the prices of its main two ingredients, meat and spices, traders said.
A kebab trader said it takes whole night to make two to three maunds of kebab.
Ali said he has been selling sutli kebab for the last 56 years at Chawakbazar. He also said over the last few years the varieties of kebab increased, but they lost the traditional flavour and quality.
Most of the traders prepare this kebab in unhygienic condition.
All varieties of kebab including Shik Kebab, Boti Kebab, Swami Kebab, Nargis Kebab, Reshmi Kebab, Muthi Kebab, and Jali Kebab are sold all the year round in the city and other parts of the country.
But Sutli Kebab is being sold only in Dhaka, particularly in the old part, during the Ramadan only, the traders said.
"The new generation is not interested to continue with this Kebab business and the traditional business might meet its demise within the next few years. Given such a bleak situation, the standard of this Kebab might deteriorate further," another Kebab trader said while talking to the FE Wednesday.
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