Trade fair gaining momentum

Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is gaining momentum with visitors crowding the country’s biggest annual trade exposition on Friday, the first weekly holiday after it started on January 1 at Purbachal on the outskirts of the capital city.

For the first time this year, sellers said, they witnessed expected sales of their products.

During visit to the fairground on Friday, this correspondent saw visitors flocking to the fair venue from Dhaka and its adjacent areas.

Talking to The Business Post, the sellers said that they witnessed more sales in single day than they sold in the last five days.

Rabiul Islam Robin, manager of A. S Fabrics, said that in the last five days a less number of people visited the fair, but the number of visitors doubled today (Friday). “We sold only 25 blazers yesterday, but we sold more than 50 blazers today.”

Md. Hossain Mahmud, proprietor of Bangla Jute Handicraft said, “The fair gains momentum today. In the first five days, a small number of people visited the fair. But it is several times higher than earlier days.”

“Yesterday we sold handicraft worth Tk 5,000, but today the amount is more than double. We are hopeful of selling more in the days to come.”

Fariha Hossain, a private jobholder who lives in Uttara, said that she eagerly waited for the fair, but could not come to the fair due to office work. “But today is off day and this is why I came here with my family members. I will buy some winter fashion and home décor items.”

Some sellers said that they are not getting an expected number of customers due to traffic snarls and distance.

Md Al-Amin, owner of Unique Man Fashion, said despite good sales today “we are not witnessing an expected number of customers as the people have to face traffic congestion in Dhaka city and the long distance between the fairground and the capital.

The visitors also claimed that they faced traffic jam while coming to the fair venue from Kuril.

Mamun Mia, a businessman in the capital, said that he came to the fair venue along with his whole family. But he did not found any seat on bus while coming to the fairground from Kuril.

He alleged that the bus owners are not following any rules while they allow people as much as they can. This is why many people have to suffer a lot while coming to Purbachal from Kuril.

This year, a total of 331 stalls and 57 pavilions and mini pavilions have been set up at the venue apart from 17 stalls established by companies from 10 countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Turkey, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and South Korea.

Like last year, the fair committee launched special BRTC bus service from Kuril Bishwa Road to Purbachal aimed at making the journey of visitors easier.

Apart from a huge parking lot, the exhibition centre on the outskirts of the capital also has an auditorium, conference rooms, restaurants, children’s play area, prayers room, medical booth, guest rooms, built-in public address system and a modern firefighting system.