Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) curtain rises today. All preparations for the 28th edition of the fair 2024 have already been completed. There are 350 local and foreign stalls in this year's trade fair.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the fair at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BBCFEC) in Purbachal on Sunday (January 21) at 10 am. She will be involved in the inauguration ceremony through video conference from Gana Bhavan.
Through the inauguration of the Prime Minister, local and foreign businessmen will officially meet with the buyers at the 28th trade fair of the country.
Like last year, this year's trade fair has been arranged at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BBCFEC) in the east of the capital. Earlier, the trade fair was held in Sher-e-bangla Nagar of the city, but mainly to avoid public trouble, the trade fair was shifted from the main city to Purbachal.
While visiting the trade fair, some of the products were up in the shops. In the rest of the shops, the employees are busy arranging the products. In addition to home made products, products-stalls-pavilions of several countries including India, Singapore, Pakistan, Turkey, Nepal have been placed in this trade fair. There are temporary booths and outlets of several banks including Islami Bank in the fair to increase the convenience of transactions. Visitors to the fair will also get mobile banking facilities.
Before entering this traditional fair in Rupganj area of Narayanganj, the mega project and development scene of the country will be seen. They are decorated with aesthetic displays at the entrance of the trade fair and around the fair. The Bangabandhu Pavilion will have to enter the fair through a gate made in the style of the Karnaphuli tunnel with special security. Where the books written on the life of Bangabandhu and various topics are presented As soon as they cross the Bangabandhu Pavilion, the buyers and visitors will be impressed by the eye-catching lighting and the flashing of domestic and foreign products.
Meanwhile, a children's park has been set up at a separate location inside the trade fair for the entertainment of children. Children's play equipment is kept there. Besides, there is a special security system to maintain the law and order situation of the fair. The Ministry of Commerce will have 50 security personnel under its own management. Apart from this, RAB members will also serve as striking force along with police and Ansar.
This year's trade fair started a bit late for the election, but all in all, the traders who participated in the fair are expecting good sales. They are also hopeful that more profit will come than last time.
Chandan, who deals in bed sheets, curtains and bed covers, said that everything is ready, just waiting for the inauguration. We hope that if the opening is tomorrow, there will be good sales from the first day. Now the roads are improved The rest of the situation can be understood.
Mukesh Arjun, an Indian bag trader, said that the work of decorating our shop is going on, sales will start from tomorrow. I hope well.
Alam Khandokar, manager of Tasty Treat Shop, said, “All our decorations are finished. All goods will be here soon after tomorrow's opening, and sales will begin.
Regarding the fair, State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam (Titu) said that no buyer-seller-visitor will be harassed or cheated in the trade fair. There will be special surveillance to check food quality, product quality. He said, no one will be cheated in the fair. There is a Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection under the Ministry of Commerce. We will have instructions so that everything is monitored round the clock by the magistrates. Any complaint will be investigated and action will be taken. Besides, we will have a complaint box every day, there will be daily complaints monitored and action will be taken. The aim of the trade fair is to increase the export of domestic products, and we are working towards that goal.
He also said that people from all parts of Dhaka will be able to come to the trade fair this time. Metrorail passengers from Uttara to Motijheel can also come here through the Dhaka Elevated Expressway. Buses will run directly from Farmgate to the trade fair. We have a Metrorail station at Farmgate. Besides, we are looking at the issue of security strongly. It is also being looked at so that buyers-visitors are not harassed or cheated.
It is to be noted that this fair has been organized since 1995 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and the Export Promotion Bureau.
The fair will run from 10 am to 9 pm every day and until 10 pm on weekends. The trade fair entry price has been increased from last time. The fair authorities have fixed Tk. 50 for adults and Tk. 25 for minors.
BRTC dedicated service has been arranged from Kuril to the fair grounds to facilitate the travel of general visitors. Capital's Farmgate will be used as a hub for going to the fair from Motijheel and Mirpur and Uttara where passengers will alight at Farmgate via Metrorail. BRTC buses will run from Farmgate to Rupganj fairground via elevated expressway. Besides, bus service has been kept from Kuril as well.