Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate formally the 27th edition of the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) today in purebachal area on the outskirts of the capital city of Dhaka.
Director general of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Mahbubur Rahman said that all the necessary preparations for successfully holding the fair have been completed.
"The Prime Minister will formally inaugurate the fair at 10:00 am today. The scope and coverage of the fair has also been extended at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BBCFEC) in the permanent building of Purbachal," he added.
However, the main attraction of the visitors is the main gate of the trade fair.
Every year the trade fair entrance as usual enthrals the visitors.
In addition, the Fair premises will be decorated with Economic Zone, Bangabandhu's portrait, Pavilion, Shishu Park, Fast Track project of the present government and various development activities, according to the Export Development Bureau (EPB).
EPB secretary and trade fair director Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said,
"The trade fair entrance has been made very attractive to the visitors. This time the entrance of the trade fair will be decorated with replicas of metro rail, mega projects and portrait of Bangabandhu to make a difference."
However, the construction of hundreds of stalls in the inner and outer premises of the Exhibition Center ‘A’ and ‘B’ is going on.
Temporary stalls are made of wood, bamboo, hardboard. The construction of multi-storied pavilion with steel, brick and concrete is also completed.
This time the environment is also better than that of the last time. Traders are expecting a bustling trade fair as the road from Kuril to Purbachal has almost been completed and the stalls have been expanded.
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the Ministry of Commerce have been holding the fair since 1995 by a joint initiative at Agargaon in the capital.
However, for the first time last year, the trade fair was held at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Sector 4 of Purbachal.
Md. Iftekhar Ahmed said the entry fee for this fair will remain the same. It isill be Tk 40 for adults and Tk 20 for children.
"There will be special service for visitors to come from Kuril Bishwa Road to the fair. BRTC buses will run from 8 am to 10 pm. One could come to the fair premises with fare of Tk 30. But this time the fare may be a little high as fuel prices are high. This year too, 50 percent discount will be given on the entry ticket and bus ticket in Bkash. Last year Bkash provided this facility. This year also they will provide the same facility, he said.
However, the administration will take all steps to ensure security to make the fair a success.
The fair will have stalls in 13 categories including general, premium, reserved, food stalls and restaurants.
‘Bangabandhu Pavilion’ will be there to know the history of the Liberation War.
Mahbubur Rahman said that this edition of the fair will feature some 351 local and foreign stalls, pavilions and mini- pavilions up from the previous year's tally of 225.
Besides, some 17 organizations from 10 countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Korea and India will also take part in the fair.
Besides the premier pavilions, premier mini pavilions, general stalls, food courts, mini stalls, premier stalls, there will be a cafeteria where some 500 people can have food at a time.
According to EPB sources, four teams of mobile court and consumer department officials are present round the clock to avert any mismanagement at this fair.
