Bakorkhani (flat dry round bread) is one of the most traditional and conventional foods in Old Dhaka.
It has been dominating the snacks list of Old Dhaka city people and felicitation of guests since its emergence. Bakorkhani shops are seen everywhere, almost every alley.
Time to time this round crispy flat bread has become a part of the area's name. Anyone who remembers the name of the area may at the same time think about bakorkhani and vice versa.
To some people it’s not just a food, it is an emotion. People’s emotions, feelings, happy and sad memories, joy and ecstasy are intertwined with this food.
Anyone who doesn’t know about this food's importance in Old Dhaka people’s lifestyle may think it is an exaggeration. But if he or she wants to adopt the Old Dhaka lifestyle, he or she has to adopt bakorkhani in his or her life. It is also a key point for researchers.
Though bakorkhani is Old Dhaka originated, now its shop is seen in almost every part of the Dhaka city. Its legacy seems unstoppable. People like it, so vendors are taking this opportunity.
Now, questions may arise about its emergence and story behind it.
Stories are twisted around this food and its naming. People say its naming was done with the name of Landlord Mirza Agha Baqer, a son-in-law of NawabMurshidQuli Khan. In that story, there was a Khani Begum who was a dancer from Arambagh. The landlord and Khani Begum fall in love with each other. But, Jaynal Khan, the city’s kotwal and the son of a wazir also falls in love with her. But, Khani Begum rejected Jaynal’s proposal.
As a result of Khani Begum’s rejecting the proposal, Jaynal attempted to do harm to her. Hearing that, Baqer offered Jaynal a swordfight and Jaynal was defeated. Jaynals two friends told a lie to his father, the wazir, that Baqer killed Jaynal and he carried off Jaynals dead body. To give punishment, the wazir ordered his men to throw Baqer in a cage with a tiger.
Baqer came out from the cage and tried to rescue Khani as she was kidnapped. Jaynal then murdered Khani and after her death she was buried in Bakerganj.
Baqer and khani used to like this flat bread. Basically, this flat bread is named after their tragic love story and their obsession with this bread.
Bakorkhani can be found aplenty in Nazimudin road, Lalbagh, Bangshal, AoladHossen lane, Nazirabazar, Koltabazar and Gendaria though bakorkhani can also be found on most of roads and alleys of that area. The makers start their work, that is making bakorkhani from dawn. New visitors give bakorkhani as their top priority.
The main ingredients of bakorkhani are flour, oil, water, cheese,and salt. Visitors can buy different types of bakorkhani which are offered between Tk180 to Tk400. Every shop sells 60-80 Kg on a daily basis.
If any visitor visits the Nazimuddin road, he or she may observe some bakorkhani shop in a serial where the maker might seem busy in making and selling bakorkhani and the buyers eating and buying them.
“We usually have a very busy schedule every day. We are happy that people still love this bread. People's love gives us money by which we are still alive. We hope more buyers will come in future”, said a bakorkhani maker.
Shah Alam, an Old Dhaka dweller since his birth, expressed his love for bakorkhani. He said, “I frequently buy bakorkhani. Our family likes this bread, especially my father who loves to take it as a snack.”
Foodlovers think its legacy is untouchable. They often try to share their thoughts about their favorite food.
"To me the milk tea- bakorkhani combination seems like a love story. I believe nothing can beat this combination. If you take tea or bakorkhani with something, the combination might not reach the level of tea-bakorkhani combination”, said Joseph, a Jagannath University student and Old Dhaka dweller.