The month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair on Tuesday saw a huge selling of all kinds of products.
People of all ages, particularly youths, flocked to the ticket counters rushing to enter the fair premises at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BBCFEC) in Purbachal at the outskirts of Dhaka.
People were found thronging the fair amid much enthusiasm and showing good responses in buying different products, including cookeries, cosmetics, clothes, jewellery and so on.
The fair premises witnessed a rush of female customers, in particular, who preferred to buy fashion items and home appliances.
Most of the clothing and cosmetic pavilions were jam-packed while the contrastive scenario was found in furniture, food and beverage, and electronics pavilions with scanty buyers.
Sales of different items, including cosmetics, winter clothes, household appliances, jewellery, handicrafts, dairy products, food and groceries, gift items, toys, stationery and plastic products have marked a rise from the last couple of days, said stall owners.
Most of the foreign pavilions were found with a small number of customers; however, the traders were hopeful of getting momentum in sales after the next week.
Taking to Bangladesh Post, many pavilion-in-charges of companies said they have come up with a whole new range of products in different sizes and designs at the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair.
They said it has been great to have a fair here (Purbachal)as an open environment.
There are people in this area who have never been to a trade fair in Agargaon, they are coming here now, they mentioned.
We are happy as sales of different items have marked a rise from the last couple of days, they said.
Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, secretary of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of the commerce ministry, said, “The number of buyers at the fair has increased. Hopefully the trade fair business will be successful. We are conducting the fair in an orderly manner with all our sincerity.”
Responding to a question about network problems at the fair, he said there was some problem with the mobile network due to pressure from visitors.
We are trying to overcome that, he said, adding that three towers of three operators have been installed.
Even then, as Grameenphone is building another tower with more subscribers, he added.
Referring to complaints that visitors were not seen on the streets by police on their way back at night, he said, “We will work on the issue as well, we are trying our best.”
Rafikul Islam, a resident of Narayanganj, said, “I wanted to bring my family from the beginning of the fair. We had not come so far because we could not manage time. There are plans to buy some household items for the family.”
Billal Hossain, manager of Iranian Store, told Bangladesh Post they brought in different varieties of products like spices, that are famous, side by side with melamine, garment items, shoes, and leather items. But sales of the items were yet to perk up.
The jewellery pavilions were overcrowded with female customers of all ages.
Iqbal Hossain, a salesman of Jhumka jewellery, said they were happy with sales of their jewellery of different designs as large numbers of customers had started crowding their shop since Friday.
Talking to Gazi Group Deputy Manager (Corporate Sales) Enayet Ullah Sarkar at Gazi Pavilion, he said, “Visitors are coming. As the fair progresses, so do the sales. We are optimistic that sales will be as expected in the coming days. Gazi has a 10 percent discount on each product. Pressure cookers of different designs have come as new products in the fair. These quality pressure cookers will cost Tk 3,000 to Tk 5,000.”
However, this year's trade fair features several special arrangements, including DITF e-shop, small scale medical centres, blood donation centres and others.
A total of 225 stalls including 23 pavilions, 27 mini pavilions, 162 stalls and 15 food stalls of various business groups, companies and individuals from home and abroad are taking part in the fair this time.
Apart from business stalls and pavilions, there are food courts, restrooms, and a playground for kids at the fair.
The gate of the international trade fair will open at 10 am every day and close at 9 pm, except for government holidays when the fair will run till 10pm.