Agargaon Turns into “Cakepotti” as Viral Cakes Draw Thousands Daily

Some Dhaka residents are now jokingly calling Agargaon “Cakepotti” — the Cake Lane. On social media, AI-generated images of a mock “Cakepotti Metro Station” have even gone viral. But behind this lighthearted trend lies a very real story: every afternoon, thousands of people are flocking to the street in front of the Election Commission building, turning it into a lively fairground — all thanks to a growing army of home bakers.

From different parts of the city, sellers—mostly women—arrive with homemade cakes. The mix of affordable prices, variety, and the joy of an afternoon outing has turned this once ordinary stretch of road into a daily festival.

Although street food stalls have been common here for over two years, the recent explosion in crowds began when certain cakes went viral on Facebook and YouTube. Both sellers and buyers agree that social media is what made Agargaon’s cakes the talk of the town.

The stalls range from simple roadside tables to car bonnets turned into pop-up cake counters. The offerings include soft, milk-white vanilla cakes topped with silver pearls, mango-scented treats with blue sugar flowers, and even rasmalai cakes decorated with intricate patterns.

One of the first vendors visitors encounter is Safa, who runs a mobile stall called Sugar Wheel off her car bonnet. On her ninth straight day of selling, she said everything she brings is sold out daily. By the time she finished explaining, two slices of vanilla and overloaded chocolate cake had already disappeared.

Farther down, Rupa’s Cake Zone was equally busy — her small team of helpers struggling to keep up with orders as cakes priced between Tk 100 and Tk 150 flew off the counter. She explained that ingredient prices determine the variation in cake costs. Like most others here, she bakes at home and comes every afternoon to sell before heading back.

However, the growing crowd has created competition for space. Sellers admit that everyone wants to set up near the beginning or end of the road where foot traffic is highest, leading to minor disputes every day.

The Rise of the “Viral Cake Sellers”

This area has hosted mobile food vendors for years, but its new fame comes from a wave of viral cake sellers. Among them, two have gained celebrity status: “Viral Zakir” and “Simi Apa.” Simi, who started just three weeks ago, now attracts such massive lines that she’s begun using a token system to manage customers.

Zakir, on the other hand, became famous for his “Lakh Takar Cake” and “Fire Cake.” His stall, near the ICT Tower, has become a magnet for YouTubers and TikTok creators shooting videos of his sales frenzy. He claims to have been here for over a year and a half but admits space disputes have worsened since his fame exploded — with other sellers rushing to grab his spot whenever he’s late.

Despite the occasional turf tension, visitors say they come mainly out of curiosity, drawn by the viral clips they’ve seen online. “We saw the cakes on Facebook — that’s why we’re here,” said a couple enjoying slices of blueberry, rasmalai, and butterscotch cake, each priced between Tk 100 and Tk 150. “You can’t find this kind of variety and price in a regular bakery.”

Facebook Fuels the Craze

Most sellers bring 7–15 cakes each, all baked in their own kitchens. They say the sudden craze stems directly from viral social media videos featuring their creations. A local baker, Kamrul Hasan, who joined the crowd three weeks ago, recalled that there were once 30–40 mixed food stalls — now there are nearly 100 cake-only vendors.

Scrolling through Facebook confirms their words: videos tagged with “Agargaon Cake” or “Cakepotti” dominate feeds. The sellers admit the buzz might not last forever — after all, cake isn’t an everyday street snack. Yet for now, it has turned Agargaon into the capital’s sweetest new attraction.

So while the suggestion to officially rename the area “Cakepotti” may be tongue-in-cheek, the craze itself is very real — and it’s giving Dhaka’s street life a fresh, sugary twist.