Last-minute preparations are continuing in full-swing for kicking off the month-long 25th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) to be commenced on January 1, the first day of the New Year- 2020.
Owners, who have been allotted pavilions and stalls, are working round the clock to complete their respective units before the inauguration. The Export Development Bureau (EPB) said, in the meantime, 88-95 percent of the preparations for the inauguration of the fair has already been completed. The whole work will be finished within the stipulated time.
A last-minute preparations is underway in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar to start the fair on schedule.
According to the EPB, there are now 450 stalls and pavilions of 21 countries, including Bangladesh, taking part in the fair.
EPB sources said that this year the number of stalls and pavilions are less than the previous year. Last year, there were 650 stalls and pavilions.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given her consent to inaugurate the fair at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center while Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi will preside over the ceremony, EPB officials said.
About the last minute preparations of the fair Mohammad Abdul Rauf, member secretary of the DITF secretariat, said, almost 90 percent work of the fair has been completed so far. This year's fair will be better than ever.
He further said there would be sufficient seating arrangements for the visitors to take rest at the fair venue this year.
The authority concerned of DITF-2020 said this time the ticket for the fair has been fixed at 40 Taka, which was Tk 30 last time.
This year, the main gate of the trade fair is being built following the structure of National Monument. It will be decorated with a portrait of Bangabandhu and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In the fair, there will be four mobile courts to be conducted by the Consumer Directorate, the two city corporations, the Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka and the EPB. The fairground will be under their constant monitoring, fair sources added.
Apart from Bangladesh, different countries will participate in the international trade fair. These include India, Pakistan, China, South Korea, Iran, Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Vietnam, the Maldives, Japan, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Brazil, the Philippines, Russia, and Germany.
The fair will continue until January 31. The fair gate and various stalls will remain open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. Tickets for the fair will also be available online this time.
