"The variety of items of iftar entice fasting people therefore the selling of iftar becomes a reasonably profitable business," said an owner of a Chinese restaurant at Dhanmondi.

International and joint venture hotels and restaurants have also prepared a variety in the menus so that city dwellers will have a different taste of iftar each day.

The largest numbers of iftar sellers are found at Chawkbazar in the old town. The area is famous for certain special iftar items. There are seasonal iftar sellers who take their place on the streets of Chawkbazar with varieties of delicious food and fruits during the whole month of Ramadan. The selling starts from 2 pm till maghrib, which is the prayer before breaking the fast.

"The street becomes off limits for any traffic during this time. This area would become a place full of small iftar sellers and people from all over the city from old and new town come to buy the special iftars of Chawkbazar," said the Cashier of Alauddin Sweet Meats.

Many types of kebabs like suti, zally, hari, shik, boti, shami, reshmi are sold during the time.

Halim in various flavours like chicken, beef, paya or legs is another common but never-too-stale item sold in the market.

Various types of Pithas or Bangla cakes, sweets like zeelapee, doi bora, beguni, piazu and other items are out in the market. Innovative items and new names appear on the iftar list in the markets all round the city.

The brand names of iftar items, such as Armenian Khasir Halim and Mama Halim are also a part of the culture and tradition of the iftar sellers

One such item called 'Boro Baper Beta Khae' which is a combination of chira, suti kebab and boneless chicken which is sold Tk. 180 per kg takes to sales immediately laid on the table.

After the daylong fast city dwellers depends on the iftar markets of the city to break the fast as dusk draws into the night and prepare for another day of fasting.

"After the days work in the office I don't have the time to prepare iftar at home for my family. I am worried about the price. If the government can't curb the price of essentials we have to cut short our iftar," said Samsunnahar, a business executive.

"The cost of iftar items would increase because of the high cost of essential goods. The market price is rising and no sign of any price control by the government can be seen. The government talks of reducing prices but in reality the opposite is taking place," said a confectionery owner who is planning to sell iftar in the month of Holy Ramadan.