Mashkalai bread. Photo : BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, Feb 18, 2025 (BSS) - Masura Begum, 54, has been running a mashkalai ruti shop on the court premises for nearly 18 years, with the support of two to three workers.

She makes a daily profit of Tk 400 to 500 by selling the bread, made of black gram, which helps her cover her family expenses.

Satisfied with her shop's earnings, she has gained the confidence to sustain herself with dignity.

But her life was not always this stable. After losing her husband around 20 years ago, she was left devastated, struggling to raise two children on her own.

Masura said many other women and men also run Kalai ruti shops in small thatched stalls covered with bamboo sticks and polythene on the court premises, as the demand for this bread remains high throughout the day, especially during office hours.

Halima Begum, 48, another shopkeeper, has been successfully running her business on the Padma riverbank, adjacent to Shishu Academy, since 2001.
She recalled that in the early days, the bread was sold at Tk 2 per piece, but due to hike in the price of ingredients, the price has now gone up to Tk 40.

The chapatti (bread) is typically eaten with various mashed items like green chili, red chili, eggplant, tomato, coriander, and spicy meat items such as beef and duck.

On average, she sells 60-70 pieces per day. If a customer chooses to eat the bread with mashed items or duck meat, they have to pay an additional Tk 10 and Tk 120, respectively.

Mamunur Rahman, 43, a public office employee and a regular customer at Halima's shop, said he has been enjoying the bread for nearly six years.
Abdul Mannan, 43, who traveled to Rajshahi for official purposes, likes black gram bread as well.

Parveen Akter, 36, another shopkeeper near Rajshahi Central Jail, has been in the business for about 10 years.

Parveen's husband, a mason, does not always have a steady income. So, her earnings play a crucial role in supporting their family.
"One of the best ways to enjoy this bread is with spicy masalas. However, we adjust the spice level according to customers' tastes. We are always committed to providing the best flavor," said Parveen.

Apart from these entrepreneurs, many other distressed women in Rajshahi have transformed their lives through the kalai ruti business.

Kalai Ruti is a unique type of bread made from black gram (mashkalai) and other flours. This traditional delicacy has been a part of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj's culinary heritage for generations.

The two districts are renowned for their kalai ruti, which is loved by both locals and visitors. By engaging in this business, these women are not only changing their fortunes but also meeting the demands of people, particularly those from marginalized and low-income backgrounds.