Home
+
Published : 03 Jan 2025, 10:35 PM
Friday marked the first weekend since the start of this year’s Dhaka International Trade Fair, or DITF. Despite the holiday, the crowd was relatively thin, but traders remain optimistic, expecting the fair to gain momentum in the coming days.
Between Friday noon and evening, a visit to the fairgrounds at Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal revealed the low turnout.
Although there were hardly any visitors earlier in the day, a small number of buyers and onlookers arrived later in the afternoon.
Most visitors wandered around, taking photos rather than making purchases. Traders said sales remain low for now.
Shahed Hossain, who came from Sherpur to showcase household essentials, told bdnews24.com: “The fair just started two days ago. Even on the first holiday, the turnout is not great. The weather might be a factor.
However, [Friday] is slightly better than the last two days. It usually takes a few days for the fair to pick up, and I believe it will be the same this time.”
Shariful Islam, a sales associate at “Nikkei Japan”, a crockery store, said:
“Sales are still slow. Customers are coming, looking around, but not buying much. Hopefully, sales will improve in a few days.”
Md Hasnat Alam, a private sector employee from Narsingdi’s Madhabdi visited with his family.
He said, “We came on the first holiday to explore. We did not buy anything yet. This visit is mainly to see how things are shaping up. It is not fully bustling yet.”
Md Omar Faruq, another visitor from Dhaka’s Kuril said: “I came to look around the fair. It feels nice, but it is not in full swing yet. I will return with my family later.”
FAIR HIGHLIGHTS AND HISTORY
The Dhaka International Trade Fair has been held since 1995 to promote and market domestic products and attract international attention.
In 2022, the venue was moved from Agargaon to Purbachal.
This year marks the 29th edition of the event.
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, Wednesday. 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.
STALL CONSTRUCTION STILL ONGOING
Typically, during the first few days of the trade fair, traders are busy setting up and decorating their stalls. This year is no exception.
A tour of the fairgrounds revealed carpenters busy with hammers and chisels, working diligently on stall construction.
Srikanta Sutradhar, who was constructing a stall, told bdnews24.com, “Along with six others under my supervision, we are building stalls. Depending on the size and design, we charge between Tk 50,000 and 300,000.”
Another carpenter, Zakir Hossain, added, “This time, we have built around 20 stalls. We complete these projects on a contract basis. I have five other people working with me on this.”
“JULY SQUARE” AND “THIRTY-SIX SQUARE”
On Aug 5, the 15-year rule of the Awami League government came to an end through a mass uprising with the once-mighty Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country to India.
To honour the martyrs of the uprising, this year’s fair features the installation of “July Square” and “Thirty-Six Square”.
July Square is located on the southeastern side of the exhibition centre, while Thirty-Six Square is on the northwestern side.
A portrait of Abu Sayed, a martyr from Rangpur in the uprising, has been placed there.
Graffiti and writings depicting the history of the uprising are also showcased.
BUS SERVICES AVAILABLE
Continuing from last time, alongside the dedicated BRTC bus service for commuting to and from the fair, Uber services have also been launched this year with special discounts.
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.
Ticket prices are Tk 50 for adults, Tk 25 for children under 12.
Entry for freedom fighters and people with disabilities are free upon showing ID cards.
The fair offers ample car parking facilities. Along with a two-storey car parking building accommodating over 500 vehicles, arrangements have been made for parking on 2.42 hectares of land outside the exhibition hall.
It also has a control room and information centre for monitoring activities, banking services through multiple booths, a mother-and-child centre and seating corners for visitors and the elderly, and on-site doctors for medical emergencies.
To ensure security and the safety of visitors, an adequate number of police, Armed Police Battalion, or RAB, intelligence agencies, and other law-enforcing personnel have been deployed at the fair premises. Closed-circuit cameras have been installed at various key locations within the premises, including entry gates, parking areas, and all relevant zones.
Moreover, to ensure the quality of food items, a team led by an executive magistrate, along with members of law enforcement, is conducting daily anti-adulteration mobile courts throughout the duration of the fair.
The month-long fair runs daily from 10am to 9pm, extending to 10pm on weekends.
