A festive mood prevails at Dhaka University in the evenings of Ramadan as numerous students, both present and former, arrange iftar parties on the campus to break the daylong fasting together.
The TSC (Teacher-Student Centre), Arts Faculty, Business Faculty, Madhur Canteen, Hakim Chattar, Curzon Hall, Law Faculty and several other places see large gatherings, with people sitting in circles, every evening since Ramadan began.
Students of other institutions such as Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka College, Eden College and different private universities also arrange iftar parties on the campus.
“It has been a tradition to organise iftar party every year during Ramadan,” said Sajib, a third-year student of Philosophy Department at the university.
“It is also a sort of reunion for us as both former and present students attend the party,” he added.
Many iftar parties are arranged every day on the campus, with some being organised by different socio-cultural organisations.
“Although we miss having iftar with our family members, we enjoy it here with friends, seniors and juniors,” said a student of women and gender studies.
TSC Director Alamgir Hossain said several organisations arrange iftar parties in Ramadan every year in the TSC cafeteria and auditorium which creates extra pressure on us to accommodate them all.
Roadside iftar sellers do a good business as people buy different popular items, including chhola, puffed rice, piyaju, beguni, samosa, jalebi and juices of different flavours, for iftar.
Babul, an iftar vendor, said: “I make extra money in Ramadan as I make nearly Tk2,500 every day by selling iftar items.”
Also in the halls and dorms, students arrange iftar in their rooms.
“We really enjoy having iftar with friends and roommates,” said Rasel, a student of economics.
Like the males, female students also arrange iftar parties in the dorms and sometimes prepare different items themselves.
“We are enjoying Ramadan in the dorm. It gives us additional pleasure when we take iftar together with our friends and also help each other in preparing iftar items,” said Suma, a student of sociology, who stays at Rokeya Hall.
Amzad Ali, proctor of the university, said: “Teachers of the blue panel (pro-Awami League) and white panel (pro-BNP) arrange iftar parties in Ramadan every year. Parties are also arranged at teachers' club and teachers' lounge.”