And the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is going to start after a couple of weeks. Domestic and foreign entrepreneurs will arrange the stalls of different types of products, starting from household items to furniture or electronics. According to tradition, the fair will be inaugurated on January 1 and will continue for a month. Meanwhile, the organizing body Export Development Bureau (EPB) has completed almost 90 percent of the preparations for the fair. Those concerned say that every year there are new additions to the trade fair. In continuation of this, the fair premises will be decorated in front of the sacrifice of the students in the July-August coup. To honor those killed in the movement, two corners are being kept in this year's mela named after martyrs 'Abu Saeed' and 'Mir Mochader'. There will also be a 'Youth Pavilion' for the youth. Besides, there will be a seating area for senior citizens, only senior citizens can sit there. But like the previous years, there is no 'Bangabandhu Corner' this time.
Export Development Bureau (EPB) 146th Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute's 59th Board of Directors meeting said that the month-long trade fair will be officially inaugurated by Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. After the fall of the government in the last July-August movement, it was very uncertain when the trade fair of 2025 would start. However, later that uncertainty has passed.
According to EPB, like last few years, the month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair 2025 will be held at the permanent venue of the trade fair at Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BBCFEC) in Purbachle, near the capital.
The organizers said that the work of organizing the trade fair is almost 90 percent completed. They say that various organizations from Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Singapore are expected to participate in this year's event. There will be 350 stalls in total.
According to EPB sources, stalls will be allocated at relatively low prices for women entrepreneurs as a special opportunity in this fair. Where they can sell products at relatively low prices.
Police, RAB and army members will be engaged in overall security of the fair. There will also be a mobile court. Besides, large scale parking facility is being kept in the fair premises to avoid the suffering of the visitors.
And the entire trade fair will be decorated in the theme of the mass uprising of the 24th. Director of EPB Mahmudul Hasan told Bangla Tribune that this year the entrance of the fair is being changed. The entrance has the theme of the July-August uprising. Apart from this, EPB's activities will be highlighted in the entire fair premises, including various issues of the financial sector.
Apart from buying tickets in person this year, this fair also has the opportunity to buy tickets online. Regarding this initiative taken for the first time, the official said, we have already talked with the contractor. At e-ticketing, visitors can enter the fair by showing the QR code on their mobile phones. Through this online service, visitors can purchase tickets from anywhere through the app.
The entrance fee of the fair is being kept as before, so far no decision has been made to increase the entrance fee, the director of the trade fair said, like last year, the entrance fee for the fair is Tk 50 for adults and Tk 25 for minors. For the convenience of visitors, BRTC bus service is also available this time. These buses will ply from under the Kuril flyover to the fair from 8 am to 10 pm every day.
It is to be noted that this fair was held for a month from 1995 to 2020 in the fair grounds of Sherbangla Nagar, Agargaon, in a joint initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and EPB with the aim of promoting, spreading, marketing and production of domestic products. The fair could not be held in 2021 due to the covid pandemic. Then in 2022 the fair moved to BBCFEC in Purbach for the first time amid pandemic restrictions. The trade fair was held at the permanent venue Bangladesh-China Exhibition Center for the third time in 2024. In continuation of this, the fair authority has organized the 29th trade fair of 2025 there.
International trade fairs are usually held from the first day of January. However, the 28th trade fair of the current year 2024 started on January 21 due to the election of the National Parliament in 2024. The fair runs till February 20 at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BBCFEC) in Purbachal, a suburb of the capital.
When asked about this, Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin told Bangla Tribune that it is hoped that a month-long trade fair will start in the capital on the first day of the new year. Which will be officially inaugurated by the chief adviser. Muhammad Yunus. EPB has completed all preparations for this year's fair. Domestic and foreign companies will gather their products in this fair. We also hope to get a significant number of export orders from this fair.
He said that extensive measures have been taken for the security of the fair. Police, RAB and army will be engaged in overall security.
