At night many of these shades are being used for anti-social activities.

It becomes a haven for vagabonds, heroin addicts and prostitutes in the very late hours of the day, alleged a resident at Moghbazar.

The condition of some of the shades is so poor, that they are held intact by bamboo poles preventing them from collapse.

The DCC had an agreement with private enterprises to build these passenger shades free of cost to provide city commuters shelter from the sun and rain.

The private enterprises in turn received permission from the DCC to use these shades for advertisements.

But taking an upper hand, the agencies went further on to build shops without the approval of DCC. Allegations are there that some DCC officials took the opportunity and making quick bucks from the shop owners.

"The agencies were allowed to put advertisements but not build shops and rent them out. So, the DCC men often come with the threat of evacuation for which we have to pay them to stay in business, " said a shop owner who took his stall from an advertising firm.

Because of the illegal status of the shops have been changing hands. It is alleged that local mustans have taken charge of running the shops.

Most of the ticket counters are also not situated where the shades are put up. The commuters therefore do not get the opportunity to use the shades.

"I don't see any passenger shades near the bus stops. What I see are the small shades put up by different bus services," said a passenger.

"The shops and tea stalls have occupied the shades and the atmosphere inside is not favourable for the commuters," commented a city dweller.

A DCC official told this correspondent that the shades were at first built to provide better services for the passengers. The shades lost their importance after the erection of the ticket counters by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).

Some apparently angry city dwellers demanded removal of the passenger shades from the pavements.

"After all, the shades were made for the benefit of the people and for the benefit of the people the shades should now be dismantled," said Abdul Khaleque of Malibagh Chowdhuripara.

The estate officer of the DCC, when contacted, said that action would be taken against the illegal shops.