Dhaka Women Find Friendship and Food at 'Table for Her' Supper Club

Supper clubs have been steadily growing in popularity within the capital, offering a unique space for residents to connect over shared meals. In Uttara Diabari, Dhaka, an initiative specifically designed for women has captured the public's imagination, creating a welcoming environment where participants can share both food and conversation.

The driving force behind this initiative is Marsey Tripura, who has established a supper club named 'Table for Her' right inside the dining room of her apartment. Marsey Tripura originally went to Canada in 2022 before returning to Bangladesh in the early part of August 2024.

Reflecting on her time abroad and the inspiration for the club, Marsey Tripura explained that friends frequently encouraged her to pursue something related to cooking because of her culinary skills. While living in Canada, she observed numerous women's community clubs and thought about creating a similar space herself, envisioning a place where strangers could gather around the same table, open up about their thoughts, and ultimately become familiar faces to one another amid conversation, chatting, and the formation of friendships over food.

The format of these gatherings is carefully structured to allow ample time for bonding. Generally, a duration of four to four and a half hours is allocated for each supper club session, during which a tightly knit group of eight individuals is invited to participate.

The response to the initiative has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic since its inception. Marsey Tripura noted that when she officially announced the concept and provided a registration form link alongside her very first cooking video, more than one thousand applications poured in within a span of two to three months.

This growing community of diners and participants also involves several other individuals who have been noted in connection with the broader culinary and media landscape, including Tania Afroz, Thangshri Dang, Umme Habiba, Asma Khandaker, Fahmida Rahman, Poppy Chakma, Victoria Chakma, Bipasha Roy, Kabir Hossain, and Sumaiya Khan, alongside references linked to organizations such as 'The Supper Pair', 'Sumaiya Khan Supper', and Prothom Alo.