At Abul Hasnat Road in Satrawza, Old Dhaka, the aroma of sizzling paratha and simmering halim drifts through the narrow lanes every afternoon during Ramadan. Inside the century-old Ananda Confectionery, customers crowd the counters, carrying forward its long-standing culinary tradition.

Established in 1920, the bakery has grown into a cherished name among residents of Old Dhaka and beyond. Its iftar offerings -- rooted in tradition and family recipes -- attract customers to savour its signature items.

In its wide range of iftar delicacies, Ananda, every Ramadan, offers chicken tikka, chapli kabab, namak para, chicken kofta, chicken paratha, tana paratha, paneer paratha, chicken drumstick, chicken cutlet, chicken sizzler, doi bora, firni, jilapi, and halim.

During Ramadan, the bakery sells around 60 different items daily. Among the most sought-after are sutli kabab-paratha, murgh musallam, beef halim, jilapi, and chicken lollipop.

Beyond its Ramadan specialities, Ananda is renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality. The shop offers a diverse assortment of snacks and sweets to suit every palate -- from freshly baked cakes and traditional sweets to spiced chicken items and various types of bread.

Mohammad Ramzan, who travelled from Gazipur and purchased iftar items for his family of five, said, “I have bought tana paratha and dudh malai and will purchase some other items as well. My family loves traditional food from this shop.”

Ramzan, who grew up on Old Dhaka's Nazimuddin Road, said he has been a fan of the confectionery since childhood. “I grew up eating their food. The taste hasn’t changed,” he added.

Echoing him, Emtiazur Rahman, now a resident of Hatirpool but raised in Old Dhaka, said Ramadan feels incomplete without a visit to this confectionery.

“I come here for their halim, jilapi, and other special items. Due to traffic and work, I cannot come every day, but during Ramadan I manage to visit three to four times to buy my favourite items,” he said.

Nayeem Ahmed from Wari recently rediscovered the bakery’s jilapi and returned on Sunday for more. “I found it very delicious, so I came again,” he said.

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Ashfia Tunnor, who has lived in Satrawza since her marriage 16 years ago, said the confectionery has become a family favourite.

“I have been buying food from here for the last 16 years. My husband’s connection to this place goes back even further, as he grew up in Old Dhaka. I love their items because of the tradition, quality, and hygiene,” she said.

Even well-known food entrepreneurs are frequent to the shop. On Sunday afternoon, Haji Babul, owner of the popular Nanna Biryani, was seen purchasing iftar items.

“I don’t usually come here myself; my family members buy from here. Today I purchased paneer samosa and nimki,” he said.

Mohammad Jajal Uddin from Kamrangirchar, who was buying chicken lollipop, samosa, and chicken sizzler, said he has been visiting the shop for the past four years. “The food is consistently good and hygienic,” he said.

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Junayed Ahmed, a fourth-generation member of the owning family, said the confectionery’s journey began with his great-grandfather, Chan Mia, in 1920.

“My great-grandfather started the business in Faridpur. Later, it shifted to Rawza on a small scale at home and gradually expanded,” he said.

Besides its main outlet in Old Dhaka, Ananda Confectionery now has branches at Jahangir Gate and Wari. The shop operates from 8:00am to 10:00pm, while the main branch remains open until midnight, he added.

Abdul Karim, a third-generation member of the owning family, said Ananda maintains its tradition by selling exclusively on a retail basis and focusing on quality over expansion.