Traders selling 'Katkati'—a traditional sweet item in Mahasthangarh. Photo: BSS

BAGURA, Jan 16, 2025 (BSS) - A traditional sweet item of Mahasthangarh, locally known as 'Katkati,' has started gaining ground among Bengali people living in various countries of Europe and America, as it is delicious to taste and healthy.

The traditional sweet with a century-old history is now being exported to over 100 countries across the globe for its extraordinary taste, much to make people of the locality proud.

When tourists visit Mahasthangarh, the earliest urban archaeological site in Bangladesh, they apart from Bogura's famous yogurt usually buy the jaggery-made Katkati that people started making in the 19th century.

Locals said traders generally make Katkati with wheat flour, oil, and sugar at home and sell those at various markets of Mahasthangarh, Shibganj, Mokamtala and other areas of the district.

Locals said, gradually, this delicious sweet dish has become popular, and eventually, visitors who come to visit the archeological site Mahasthangarh, located about 13 kilometers north of Bogura city along the Bogra-Dhaka highway, prefer to buy Katkati apart from curd as souvenirs of the historical places.

Traders said over 500 people are engaged with Katkati-selling shops built around the momentous Mahasthangarh. Astonishingly, 40 percent of the workforce is women.

According to historians, human civilization developed here about 2,500 years back on the banks of the river Karatoya. Later, life began to flourish here, centering around the shrine of Hazrat Shah Sultan Balkhi Mahi Sawar (R.A.).

Initially, Katkati was offered as a side dish at the shrine. Later, its popularity has increased due to its taste and quality, making Mahasthangarh a large commercial site due to the buzzing business of Katkati.

Over 100 of Kakkati shops, including Lal Mia Katkati Ghar, Nasir Katkati Palace, Hamu Mama Katkati Palace, Sultan Katkati Palace, China Katkati Ghar, Alauddin Katkati Bhandar, Jinnah Katkati Bhandar, Fatima Katkati Palace, Al Amin Katkati Palace, and Laeb Katkati Bhandar, Shahadat Katkati Bhandar, have become trusted outlets for buying the traditional food. 

Local traders said three types of Katkati are available here. The taste is the same when fried in oil and dalda, but when it is fried in ghee, its taste turns extraordinary and more delicious.

On average, six months of a year (November to April) are considered the tourist season in Mahasthangarh.

During this time, on average, at least 250 maunds of Katkati are sold every day while 200 maunds are sold every day.

Thus, 6,000 maunds of Katkati are sold every month while 72,000 maunds are sold every year. 

Traders said that Katkati is sold here at a price ranging from Taka 120 to 200 per kg. If the average cost is Taka 140, the price of 72,000 maunds of Katkati is Taka 40.32 crore.

Md. Rafiqul Islam Badal, owner of 'Nasir Katkati Bhandar,' said that the fame of the Katkati has spread across the country and the world, especially the places where Bengali people live. 

"Many visitors from different districts visit Mahasthangarh and take this delicious sweet dish with them when they return home," he said.

"Besides, the traditional sweet is being sent to various countries of the world, including Europe and America," he said, adding, "I sell four to five maunds of Katkati every day."

Fatema Ashraf Monti, who came to Mahasthangarh from Mirpur in Dhaka, said she visited various tourist attractions in the historical Mahasthangarh.

"As the Katkati has a great reputation, I ate the sweet and took some amount of the dessert for my family," she said.
"This food is incomparable," she said with great satisfaction and joy.

Locals said that Joynal Ali Mandal, Bhola Mandal, and Geda Mandal of Palashbari Uttarpara village of Gokul union in Bogura district started making this traditional sweet item about 110 to 120 years ago. 

Among their descendants, Munsher Ali, son of Bhola Mandal, Bablu Mia, son of Joynal Mandal, and Shahadat Hossain, son of Geda Mandal, have continued the business of this traditional Katkati. 

President of Bogura Chamber and Commerce Sairul Islam said along with yogurt, Katkati is exported abroad.

"The sweet dish is sold in various countries, including Europe, America, and Canada, wherever the people of this region live," he added.