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Published : 31 Jan 2025, 05:37 PM
Staff Attendees have flocked to the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal on the final day of the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair 2025.
As the final day fell on the weekly holiday on Friday is a weekend, shoppers and visitors from all walks of life from the capital and its surrounding areas poured into the fair in droves from the morning. By the afternoon, the grounds were packed.
Everyone seemed to be returning home with something after taking advantage of the attractive offers on several products, especially household goods, food, electronics, and crockery. Buyers also showed great interest in 'Buy One Get One' offers.
Some stalls are offering 20 percent to 30 percent discounts on various products on the final day, leading to booming business.
Shoppers and visitors from many walks of life from the capital and surrounding areas started coming to the fair. They are taking advantage of the discounts on the prices of various stalls.
The Export Promotion Bureau, or EPB, and the Ministry of Commerce are jointly hosting the fair, with furniture chosen as the product of the year.
As per tradition, the trade fair began on the first day of the New Year. Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the event.
This year, the largest product exhibition in the country features a total of 362 stalls and pavilions. Among these, 351 belong to domestic companies, while the remaining 11 stalls represent businesses from seven different countries.
The seven participating countries are India, Pakistan, Turkey, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
The fair showcases and offers for sale a wide range of products, including domestic textiles, machinery, carpets, cosmetics and beauty aids, electrical and electronics goods, furniture, jute and jute-based products, household items, leather, artificial leather and leather goods, sports equipment, sanitary ware, toys, stationery, crockery, plastic, melamine polymers, herbal products, toiletries, imitation jewellery, processed foods, fast food, handicrafts, and home decor items.
Vendors say that although sales have increased towards the end of the fair, they are still not seeing much profit. They pushed for an extension of the fair's hours, but the authorities did not agree.
Russell Mahmud, head of Vision Pavilion in the main building of the fair, said: "As today is the last day, we are seeing a good response from buyers and visitors. We are offering a 20 percent discount on all our products. Sales are good, but it could have been better."
Salesman Akhter Hossain is working at a stall that sells Tangail-woven sarees and three-pieces. He said, "Today is the final day, sales are good. Sarees and three-pieces are available at affordable prices."
A customer who came to the shop said, "It was different when the fair was held in Agargaon. But it isn’t bad here either. However, I think more people will come if the number of foreign stalls is increased."
Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin will officially conclude the fair’s proceedings in the afternoon but the fair will continue until 10pm.
Bangladesh has been holding the Dhaka International Trade Fair since 1995 to promote, expand, market and attract the attention of the international market for domestic products. In 2022, the venue of the fair was moved from Agargaon to Purbachal. This year marks the end of the 29th edition of the fair.
The ticket price for entry to the fair is Tk 50 per person for adults and Tk 25 for children below 12 years of age.
For the convenience of visitors, more than 200 dedicated shuttle buses from BRTC will run daily from 8am from Kuril Bishwa Road, Farmgate (Khejurbagan/Khamarbari), Narayanganj, and Narsingdi towards the trade fair.
The last bus will depart from the fair premises at 11pm.
The fare from Farmgate (Khejurbagan/Khamarbari) to the fair premises is set at Tk 70; from Kuril Bishwa Road to the fair premises, Tk 35; Narayanganj to the fair premises, Tk 120; Narsingdi to the fair premises, Tk 90; from the fair premises to Gulistan, Tk 80; and from Gulistan to Narayanganj, the fare is set at Tk 45.
Continuing from last year, alongside the dedicated BRTC bus service for commuting to and from the fair, Uber services have also been launched this year with special discounts. A special Uber pick-up spot has also been designated.
In addition, an online ticketing system has been introduced for the first time at the fair. Tickets for the fair could be purchased online and visitors could enter the fairgrounds after scanning their phones. This reduced the rush of wait times at ticket counters.
