As the Asr prayer ended, a cheerful young man greeted me at the mosque entrance. His small frame and lively demeanor immediately reminded me of Abul Kalam, who has been volunteering at iftar events in this mosque for the past 17 years. No matter where he spends the rest of the year, he is always present at the mosque during Ramadan. This year, the only difference was that he wore the volunteer uniform.

The Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, one of Chittagong city’s most important religious and historical sites, was built in 1667 by Buzurg Umed Khan, son of Shaista Khan, to commemorate the Mughal conquest of Chittagong. Designed in the style of Delhi’s Jame Mosque, the mosque is renowned not only for its architecture but also for its public iftar tradition, which has been ongoing for 25 years.

While Shamsul Alam was speaking, a young volunteer prepared puffed rice, chickpeas, and jalebi on a large tray in front of him. He smiled and gestured for me to join, saying, “Come, be part of it, brother.”

On Monday evening, at least eight volunteers, including Abul Kalam, were busy preparing for iftar. The mosque’s large courtyard was covered with a tent, and mats were laid out for the fasting attendees. On one side, a huge plastic tub was filled with sherbet for 2,000 people. Each year, Md. Shahidul Alam, representing a private company, prepares the sherbet for the mosque. This year, he used 20 kg of sugar, 18 bottles of ruhafza, 1 kg of salt, and 40 kg of ice.

All ingredients for the iftar are donated by the public; the mosque receives no government funding. According to the mosque assistant, Hasan Murad, “Not a single taka from the mosque’s funds is spent. People contribute generously—chickpeas, oil, flour, lentils, even salt—though most prefer to remain anonymous.”

The menu for iftar included chickpeas, onion fritters, eggplant fritters, jalebi, chops, and puffed rice. By late afternoon, distribution began, and by around 5:30 p.m., the mosque was nearly full. Attendees ranged from security guards, bankers, and businesspeople to rickshaw pullers.

The tradition of organizing public iftar at the mosque dates back decades, but large-scale events have been held since 2001, initiated by the mosque’s khatib, Syed Mohammad Anowar Hossain Taher Jaberi Al-Madani. His personal assistant, Hasan Murad, confirmed that over 3,000 people attended the iftar on the previous Sunday, and similar numbers have been seen since the start of Ramadan.

Volunteers from all walks of life participate, creating a sense of equality as everyone shares the same meal. Among the helpers is Zainal Abedin, a day laborer who dedicates his time during Ramadan to serve the fasting community without any payment. Asked if financial strain affects him, he smiled and replied, “I’m not here for money. Seeing the fasting people satisfied—that’s the greatest reward.”

Among the attendees was 60-year-old Shamsul Alam from Asadganj, who said he comes to the mosque every day during Ramadan. “Breaking the fast with hundreds of others here brings a special joy. As everyone raises their hands in prayer, I hope my fast is accepted too,” he said.

The spirit of sharing, devotion, and community continues to make this mosque’s public iftar a cherished Ramadan tradition in Chittagong.