Matri Bhandar (Bengali: মাতৃ ভাণ্ডার) is a Bangladeshi traditional confectionery store well known for Rasmalai.[1] The taste of Rasmalai of Matri Bhandar has been appreciated in various national and international important places and events.[2][3] Rasmalai of Matribhandar is on the list of favorite food of various famous and important personalities. Among them are Earl Robert Miller and Geeta Pasi, who expressed their love for Matri Bhandar's product.[4][5]

Matri Bhandar
Formation1930
TypeConfectionery store
Location
Coordinates23°27′43″N 91°10′59″E / 23.4619157°N 91.182947°E / 23.4619157; 91.182947
ProductsSweets (esp. Rasmalai)
OwnerAnirban Sen
Founder
Khanindra Sen and Manindra Sen
Staff25

Location

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The Matri Bhandar shop in Comilla town is located along with three other popular confectionery shops in Manoharpur suburb. The shop has been built very close to Rajarajeshwari Kalibari.[2]

History

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Khanindra and Monindra Sengupta were proprietor of the shop when it was established.[6] They were two brothers originated from Brahmanbaria who built the shop in 1930 using one man's space.[7][2] Ten years later, after one of the two founding brothers left for the land of no return, Shankar Sen inherited his father's shop and started running it.[3] Khaninder Sen's son Shankar Sen died 78 years after taking charge of the shop.[8] The current owner of Matri Bhandar is Anirban Sen Gupta.[2] Over time, Rasmalai of Matri Bhandar has become a part of the national culture of Comilla in this era.[9]

Store ownership

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  • 1st generation: Khanindra Sen Gupta & Manindra Sen Gupta[2]
  • 2nd generation: Shanker Sen Gupta[3]
  • 3rd generation: Anirban Sen Gupta[8]

Sales

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In February 2021, price of Rasmalai was Tk 260 per kg. In November, the price increased by Taka 20. There is a limit for purchase till 5 kg. Matri Bhandar sells at least 1000 kg Rasmalai per day.[8][7]

Confectionery stores in the same name

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There are many sweet shops in Comilla in the same name "Matri Bhandar". So it is difficult for people to find the real Matri Bhandar shop. In most cases, fake shops has a slight difference in the name, such as a word before or after the name.[8][9]

GI Registration

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Finally, after constant effort by the government to get Rasmalai geographical indication registration for the Matri Bhandar,[10] it got approval with 3 other products simultaneously on 1 January 2024.[11]

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In the book Misir Ali Omnibas (Vol. 2) of Misir Ali's novel series, it is mentioned that a character has bought a packet of Matri Bhandar's Rasmalai.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Succulent Rasmalai of Comilla". Daily Sun. 20 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Taibur Rahman Sohail (30 December 2021). "কুমিল্লার রসমালাই: আসল মাতৃভান্ডারের খোঁজে". The Business Standard (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "শত বছরের দারপ্রান্তে রসমালাই, আজো স্বাদ পাল্টেনি". Daily Bangladesh (in Bengali). 13 August 2020. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  4. ^ "রসমালাই খাওয়া ছাড়া কুমিল্লা ভ্রমণ সম্পূর্ণ হয় না". Daily Amader Somoy (in Bengali). 29 September 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  5. ^ Abdul Jalil Bhuiya (17 October 2020). "এখনো শতবর্ষের ঐতিহ্য নিয়ে সুনাম ছড়াচ্ছে কুমিল্লার রসমালাই". Jaijaidin (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  6. ^ "মাতৃভাণ্ডারের রসমালাই প্রতিদিন বিক্রি লাখ টাকা". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 26 November 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  7. ^ a b Chowdhury, Biswajit (5 March 2016). "আসল মাতৃভান্ডারের সন্ধানে". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d Shah, Jahangir (4 November 2021). "ভেজালের ভিড়ে আসল একটাই". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  9. ^ a b Alam, Masud (6 November 2017). "Matri Bhander's roshomalai under siege from copycats". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  10. ^ Bashar, Rezaul (15 February 2017). "Bangladesh moves to get GI registration for Comilla delicacy Rasmalai, textile Khadi". BD News 24. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  11. ^ Saha, Partha Sankar (1 January 2024). "জিবে জল আনা মিষ্টিসহ চার পণ্যের জিআই স্বীকৃতি". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  12. ^ Humayun Ahmed (28 February 2019). Misir Ali Omnibas Vol. 2 (in Bengali). Google Books. Archived from the original on 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
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