The 'grass market' is more than 30 years old. A few people began selling grass at the spot in mid-70s and it became a well-known city customers. Currently the second and third generation of the grass sellers are doing business there.

The grass sellers said they start collecting grass early in the morning from parks, eidgahs, and lakeshores in Dhanmondi, Gulshan and the lawns of private houses.

"We do not face any obstruction while cutting grass from public parks. The authorities are happy to let us cut the excess grass," said Abdur Razzak, a grass seller.

Occasionally the owners of private houses call them to cut the overgrown grass and weed of their lawns and gardens. "The owners hardly ask for money from us but the guards and staff ask for tips," said Abdur Rahman, an elderly grass seller.

The sale of grass begins at the market after 2:00pm and continues till 8:00pm.

Their customers mostly come from the Old Dhaka and some parts of Dhanmondi, Jhigatola and Rayerbazar areas, the grass sellers said. "Most of them have cattle farms and they require grass every day," said Razzak.

From each of these customers the sellers receive Tk 50 to Tk 60 per bag of grass. The sellers even make home deliveries to their regular customers. Some grass sellers said they charge Tk 80 to Tk 100 from well-off customers.

The daily income of each grass seller ranges from Tk 200 to Tk 300, said Shah Ali, a grass seller. "We are able to meet our families' daily needs with whatever we can earn."

A few grass sellers allege that the policemen who patrol the area demand tolls from them. "They take Tk 3 to Tk 4 a day from each of us," said a seller.