Jilapi has become one of the most popular items for iftar during Ramadan, with many people considering their iftar incomplete without this sweet delicacy. From temporary street stalls to five-star hotels, jilapi dominates the range of iftar items. In some popular restaurants, customers line up hours before iftar to get their share of the beloved treat.
Most hotels and restaurants sell jilapi only during Ramadan. Prices this year range from Tk 200 to Tk 600 per kilogram at regular establishments, while in five-star hotels it can go up to Tk 4,000 per kilogram.
Business Insights
Business owners in Dhaka report that small temporary stalls sell around Tk 60,000 worth of jilapi daily during Ramadan. Medium-sized restaurants sell between Tk 200,000 and Tk 300,000, while premium establishments such as Star Restaurant in Karwan Bazar can earn up to Tk 1.5 million per day. Considering nearly 436,000 hotels and restaurants nationwide, total sales of jilapi during Ramadan reach Tk 2,700 crore.
Restaurant Sales
At Star Restaurant, sources say 100-150 kg of jilapi is sold daily at Tk 450-500 per kg, amounting to at least Tk 50,000 in daily sales. Restaurant manager Sabbir said, “We sell jilapi only during Ramadan. Malai jilapi is Tk 500 per kg, while smaller ones are Tk 450. Daily sales are at least 50 kg, sometimes higher.” An anonymous employee added that sales can reach 150 kg per day.
At Ananda Restaurant in Farmgate, around 50 kg of jilapi is sold daily, priced at Tk 250 per kg for thick jilapi and Tk 300 per kg for thin jilapi. An employee said, “We sell jilapi only during Ramadan. It’s in high demand, and daily sales are around 50 kg.”
Street Stalls
Badsha Mia, who runs a grocery shop in Shewrapara, sets up a temporary stall for iftar. He said, “We sell at least 10 kg of jilapi daily. Demand is very high, and we can hardly keep up. We sell at Tk 200 per kg.” According to him, daily sales reach Tk 2,000, totaling Tk 60,000 over the month.
Five-Star Hotels
At The Westin Dhaka, jilapi is sold at Tk 4,000 per kg, the highest price this year. Pan Pacific Sonargaon charges Tk 3,200 per kg and Tk 1,700 per half kg. At Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden, ghee-fried jilapi costs Tk 2,900 per kg, while Intercontinental charges Tk 2,500 per kg, and Amari Hotel Tk 2,899 per kg and Tk 1,499 per half kg.
Previously, the highest price for one kilogram of jilapi in the country reached Tk 20,000 in 2023 at Hotel InterContinental, as it was wrapped in edible 24-carat gold leaf. This sparked significant discussion and controversy. This year, however, InterContinental has not brought gold-wrapped jilapi to the market.
Economic Impact
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) 2021 survey, there were 436,274 hotels and restaurants in the country, a number that has likely increased since then. Almost all of these establishments sell jilapi to some extent during Ramadan.
While upscale hotels can earn up to Tk 1.5 million daily from jilapi and medium-range restaurants Tk 200,000-Tk 300,000, smaller shops in villages may not reach Tk 10,000 daily. In Dhaka, small shops selling an average of Tk 60,000 per day collectively contribute to Tk 2,700 crore in nationwide sales during Ramadan.
Professor Mostafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow at the private research organisation Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), told Jago News that although there were around 400,000 hotels and restaurants in 2021, the number has grown significantly since then. “Jilapi may not be sold everywhere. Since it hasn’t entered the formal economy, there is no accurate data on its market,” he said.
He added, “During Ramadan, economic activity in the country increases considerably. Take jilapi, for example—its production involves sugar and related activities, generating additional economic activity and creating temporary employment opportunities during this period.”