Pizza Hut Meets Muslim World

I had the unique opportunity to experience iftar at Pizza Hut in Dhaka. I should mention that Pizza Hut is a luxury restaurant in the Bangladeshi context, where one individual-sized pan pizza can cost up to $10, which is a LOT of money in taka (the taka is the only currency on the face of this planet that is still depreciating against the dollar). Among others, it is frequented by aid workers and embassy officials craving for food they can relate to. They occupied around half of the restaurant, clad in shalwar kameez and kurta, and waited expectantly for the azaan in an effort to be respectful to the "locals". A mechanical waiter came to take down our orders and insisted on addressing us in garbled English despite our attempts to steer him to Bangla. Next another waiter stepped out with a regal air, rang a bell ceremoniously and announced that we can break out fast. The food arrived but it wasn't pizza.... it was dates and lebur shorbot! Turns out it was part of the iftar special. Only in Bangladesh.........