Discounts draw crowd as DITF nears end
A man and a woman struggling with hands full of shopping bags try to hire a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. Even their five-year-old daughter holds something she desired, a box of toys.
The purchase spree was evident outside Dhaka International Trade Fair yesterday as thousands flocked to the capital's Agargaon to grab a share of discounts on the eve of its closing.
The man, Rejaul Islam, said he had spent around Tk 20,000.
“My wife purchased a flatbread maker, ceramics, kitchenware and some plastic products. We also bought some food items, including cake and biscuits and some dresses and toys for my daughter,” he said.
“Exhibitors offer more discounts on the final days. I think it is a good opportunity for middle-income people like us,” he said.
Many exhibitors offered five to 50 percent discount and raised the amount of discount for those which are already on sale.
“Sales on the last three days were really good as we offered 50 percent discount on our items,” said salesperson Hasan at the Thai and Chinese gallery.
Ashraful Islam at RFL's plastic gallery said the response on the last five days was tremendous as they increased the discount rates a few days ago. “Most arrived to make purchases and not just look around,” he said. Businessperson Mohammad Mukul from Raja Bazar was paying a bill for Tk 2 lakh at a stall selling women's clothing.
Asked what he bought, he smiled pointing to a woman and said, “I am only paying the bills as I am the looser, my wife is the winner.” “I came to the fair to buy some products such as lehenga, three pieces and saris which are made in India or Pakistan. This stall sells original Pakistani apparel,” said his wife Helen. However, not everyone was leaving so happy.
Abdul Haleen Puri, managing director of First Fashion, was dissatisfied with business this year. He said visitors often doubted the authenticity of foreign products.
“Not only that, the environment of the fair is also not friendly. Toilets are so dirty that human beings cannot use them. It is also ridiculous that men and women have to use the same toilets,” he said.
Mahmud Hossain from Arambagh said to have been attending the fair for the last 10 years and witnessed a drop in the number of stalls for foreign countries. “Last two years it has become a national fair with domestic items,” he said.
Organisers—the commerce ministry and Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau—said to have allocated about 50 stalls to foreign companies and the rest to locals.
Some 17 countries are said to have participated including China, the US, India, South Korea, Iran, Turkey, Nepal, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Iran, Pakistan, Mauritius, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The month-long event ends today.