The Dhaka International Trade Fair 2014, which began on January 11, drew a large number of visitors on Friday, the last weekend before the end of the country’s biggest trade fair.
The month-long trade fair ends on February 11 (Tuesday).
Visitors, particularly youths, flocked the ticket counters rushing to enter the fair premises at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city.
‘The DITF witnessed astonishing presence of visitors. The fair premises and even its surrounding areas are seen surge of people because of public holiday today,’ Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, member secretary of DITF’14, told the news agency on Friday on the fair premises.
He attributed the record turnout of visitors to an array of special arrangements such as Sundarban Eco-park, DITF’14 e-shop, small-scale medical centre, blood donation centre, performance of local folk songs and countdown clock.
‘Introduction of the large screen movie theatre in the show fascinated youngsters,’ said Ghosh, also deputy director of Export Promotion Bureau, co-organiser of the fair.
‘Every year I wait for the fair to purchase household necessities because I get discounts here. I use to come to the fair on every Friday round the month every year,’ said Mahmuda Sheuli Akhter, a government service holder, who came to the fair from Shajahanpur in the capital.
‘My daughter was overwhelmed with joy all the way to the fair premises,’ said Abdullah Al Masum, a visitor who came with his wife.
Shakura Sharmin Khan, another visitor, said ‘I was almost locked at my home during the last couple of months due to the political unrest…I came here with my parents and doing lots of fun.’
An array of local products of host Bangladesh specially electronics, traditional jamdani products, jute and jute goods, leather and leather goods, export-oriented readymade garment goods, furniture and handicrafts are being displayed in the show to woo foreign buyers.
Majority of the visitors were seen assembling at different stalls that are displaying home appliances, kitchenware and textiles or clothing items.
Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury, Pavilion in-charge of Sony Rangs said, ‘We are satisfied with the presence of visitors on the last holiday like today.’
‘The main objective of my participation in the show is to know the customers’ choice and attitude so that the quality of traditional jamdani clothing could be improved further,’ said Ayubur Rahman, proprietor of Salma Jamdani Weaving Factory.
‘We’re expecting high return from our participation,’ said Rahman.
The fair remains open from 10:00am to 10:00pm for all with an entry fee of Tk 30 for an adult and Tk 20 for a child.
A total of 47 foreign companies from 12 countries including India and Pakistan are participating in the show where varieties of local and international products are being displayed in a total of 471 stalls.
Jointly organised by the Export Promotion Bureau and Ministry of Commerce, the country’s flagship trade show has been taking place in the capital since 1995.
-With New Age input
