Most shop owners said they begin sales an hour prior to iftari time, but residents of the area complained that sales start just after midday.

With the footpaths occupied by these outlets, pedestrians walk on the main roads, increasing the chaos on the already congested streets.

A manager of a halim house in Kalabagan admitted that selling iftari on public property is illegal. "It is only during the Ramadan month that situation arise. Police and DCC officials warn us from time to time but since many outlets are on the footpaths, we take our chance as well," he said.

"We are continuing eviction drives on these makeshift outlets and on Saturday we evicted some shops in Fulbaria near Gulistan with the help of the police," Chief Estate Officer of DCC, Abu Taleb told the Star City.

"But an hour after the eviction, residents complained that the shops came out again. The police has to handle these situations as they are the law enforcers and have the authority to curtail such activities." Taleb added.

Abdul Noor, a resident said that right after DCC officials left, the business started again with a bribe given to the police, while Rahman Miah from a Satmasjid road outlet confirmed that a bribe of Tk 50-60 business could go on without any hindrance.

We raised the issue of increasing police patrol in the eviction drive in a meeting with the Mayor and Police Commissioner," said Abu Taleb.

There are two types of iftari vendors -- those who own shops and others with a single table catering to the low-income group. Some of them are can be seen in the open just selling chola and muri.

Vendors said that there was no specific space allotted to them by the DCC to sell iftari. "Sales will not be good if we are located inside a building or market place, as we cater to the low income group that pass by from work," said a vendor from Panthapath.

"As rickshaws are off-limit on many VIP roads, we have to walk home from office for iftar. But as the footpaths are intruded, it takes about 15 minutes more than the usual time to reach home and on quite a few occasions, I missed breaking fast with my family," said a pedestrian returning home from office.

Speaking to the police crimes division, an officer requesting anonymity told the Star City that they cannot evict these makeshift shops as this duty fell under the jurisdiction of the 24 mobile courts in the city. Each court has a magistrate who has the authority to remove such temporary shop. The police can only provide law-related support in the operations led by DCC teams.