Trade fair draws huge crowds

The first weekend after the start of The Dhaka International Trade Fair-2014 lures in massive crowds yesterday. Photo: Courtesy

The Dhaka International Trade Fair-2014, which began on January 11, drew a large number of visitors yesterday, the first weekend after the start of the country's biggest trade fair.
Visitors, particularly youths, flocked the ticket counters rushing to enter the fair premises at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.     
"We expect the daily turnout of visitors to hit one lakh from next week," Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, member Secretary of DITF'14, told the news agency yesterday on the fair premises.
This year's trade fair features several special arrangements, including the Sundarbans eco-park, DITF e-shop, small scale medical centre, blood donation centre, performance of local folk songs and countdown clock, said Ghosh, also deputy director of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), co-organiser of the fair.  
 

Visitors wait in long queues to buy tickets at the counters outside. Visitors wait in long queues to buy tickets at the counters outside. Photo: Courtesy

“Every year I wait for the fair to purchase household necessities because I get discounts here. I come to the fair every Friday round the month every year,” said Shakura Sharmin Khan, a visitor who came from Mirpur.
“My son Samayel was overwhelmed with joy all the way to the fair premises,” said Dr Fahrina Rahman, another visitor.
An array of local products especially electronics, traditional Jamdani products, jute and jute goods, leather and leather goods, export-oriented readymade garment goods, furniture and handcrafts are being displayed in the fair to attract foreign buyers.
The majority of the visitors were seen gathering at different stalls that were displaying home appliances, kitchenware and textiles or clothing items.
Aktaruzzaman Opu, in-charge of Walton High-Tech Industries Ltd (Walton HIL), said despite apprehension of lower turnout of visitors due to the recent political unrest, participation of both consumers and visitors on the first holiday are satisfactory.
Jointly organised by the Export Promotion Bureau and Ministry of Commerce, the country's flagship trade show has been taking place since 1995.