Iftar by the bay

As dusk settled over the dyke, chairs and mats lined the shoreline where people gathered for iftar. Dates, fried snacks, fruits and bottles of water sat neatly on the tables, while all eyes turned westward -- towards the setting sun, waiting to break the fast.

Such scenes have become common along Patenga beach and the nearby seafronts of the port city, where crowds gather at iftar time.

In recent years, breaking the fast by the sea, on the deck of lighter vessels, and along the Karnaphuli river has become a Ramadan trend in the port city.

Mehedi Hasan, 25, was with four of his friends on Patenga beach. They were arranging plates of food on a small table.

“We come here after work,” said Mehedi, who works at a private company.

“It feels different from having iftar at home. Watching the sunset by the sea makes the moment special,” he added.

Near Akmali Ghat area, a private university student Tanjila Akter, 23, was sitting with her classmates. They were holding a potluck party where everyone brought something from home.

“We share the food and break fast together. It’s simple, but it feels nice,” she said.

As the sun was nearing the horizon, the area got busier as people began arriving in groups. Some sat on the beach, while others gathered on decks of lighter vessels anchored near the shore.

Mohammed Suman was attending an iftar arranged on the deck of a lighter vessel on Karnaphuli river with his colleagues.

“The calm water and open sky feels surreal. And a shared meal creates a sense of brotherhood,” he said.

During a recent visit to the Karnaphuli riverbank, as the sky slowly turned orange and clouds painted the horizon in shifting shades, people glanced at their phones to check the time. When the call to Maghrib prayer echoed from nearby mosques, some began with dates. The chatter and laughter gradually faded as people along the beach and riverfront settled into the evening meal together.