Bangladesh displays local products to IPU delegates

The commerce ministry has organised an exhibition on the sidelines of the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly to showcase the country's exportable goods and heritage to the foreign delegates.

The ministry has also been showing documentaries on the country's rich history and culture in the exhibition at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

The five-day fair will remain open from 9am and 7pm every day until tomorrow.

A total of 1,348 delegates from 131 countries have joined the IPU assembly. Apart from displaying exportable goods, various development activities of the government are also projected at the fair.

The domestic exhibitors are showcasing different items, including pharmaceuticals, leather and plastic goods, garments, food items ornaments, tourism products and products from tea and cottage industries.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, president of IPU, said the delegates came from different countries to Dhaka for a brief period and they are in a very tight schedule now.

“So, we wanted to showcase the Bangladeshi items before them through a fair. They can buy the goods from the fair.”

One of the goals of the event is that when the delegates will get back to their home, they will help create a market for Bangladeshi products to their respective countries, Chowdhury said.

“We are also displaying our culture and heritage here, because they would not be able to go for countryside visit. So this will help them to get the glimpses of the village life of Bangladesh,” he said.

So, the fair is organised mainly to showcase Bangladesh, to do branding for Bangladesh and to make Bangladesh familiar to a new height, he said. “The main message is that Bangladesh is ready to do business with the world.”

“The fair is a very wonderful experience for us to know the talents of the people of Bangladesh,” said a member of the Canadian delegation at the IPU summit.

“We are really enjoying it. I think it's good for the delegates from all over the world to be able to come and see these all. They will also be able to take some souvenirs from the fair to their homes. It's wonderful,” the Canadian delegate said.