Iftar sales in the capital have come down this year due to the recent drives by the mobile court against adulterated and stale food.

Use of food colour and low quality oil is also less this year, said customers.

At popular spots for iftar items in the city like Chawkbazar, Bailey Road, Dhanmondi, Satmasjid Road and the BAF Shaheen Complex market, using colour in food has almost ceased much to the delight of the consumers.

"This year iftar items are more pricey but they seem less harmful. The iftar market is not as colourful as last year but it is certainly more hygienic," observed Ahmed Razu of Chawkbazar.

"While people were buying iftar, the mobile court raided this place recently. After that, the sellers have become very cautious about cleanliness. All the food

items are covered with plastic sheets and there is always someone to shoo away the flies" said Rokeya Begum who was shopping at Shaheen Complex.

The streetside iftar market at Karwan Bazar has seen less number of stalls this year apperently due to the price hike of food products. Even the owners of the makeshift shops are not risking adding food colour or low quality oil in the fear of mobile courts.

Ahmed Sharif, an iftar shop owner from Karwan Bazaar said that the business was very dull this year due to two reasons, price hike of all items and the mobile court. “People have become generally skeptical about iftar items,” said Sharif.

Monu Miah, a food seller from Bailey Road said: "Look at the colour of the jilabis. They are crispy and bright golden in colour and not red or orange. The hot sugar syrup is as well made of the

best quality sugar."

But in the nname of quality, sellers have also raised the prices.

"We have to sell iftar items at a higher price as the ingredients have become costlier too, " said a seller of iftar items from Karwan Bazaar.

Manager of a street side iftar outlet in Gulistan said one kg of soybean oil had been Tk 48 not so long ago and now it is Tk. 58.

"We have already started our drive in iftar shops. We are stressing on finding iftar items with food colour and adulterated oil. We are checking the kitchens to see whether they are using mobil or any harmful chemical while frying. We are also checking the cleanliness and hygiene standards ," said mobile court magistrate Rokon-Ud-Doula.