Dhaka Int’l Trade Fair to be held if COVID-19 situation improves

Apparel Correspondent:The 26th edition of Dhaka Int’l Trade Fair (DITF) will be arranged at its newly built permanent venue, the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre (BCFEC) in Purbachal in the capital if the COVID-19 situation improves, said Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday, February 7.

As per the previous decision, the DIFT is going to be held in a new place. However, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Commerce Ministry have been organizing the month-long yearly fair since 1995 beside the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital’s Agargaon.

The Minister came up with the announcement at a virtual programme at the secretariat while Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming handed over the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BCFEC) to the Minister.

“A possible date was fixed upon consultation with the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) to arrange the DITF. Then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked us to go slow due to the COVID-19 situation. The arrangement of the DIFT fully depends on the improvement of COVID-19 situation,” said the Minister.

Earlier, the secretary of EPB Iftikher Ahmed Chowdhury said, “We are taking preparations to arrange the fair to coincide with March 17, the birthday of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We have already completed all construction activities of BCFEC and are waiting to hand over it through a formal ceremony. Our Prime Minister will fix the exact date of the month-long fair soon.”

He added that after getting confirmed date they would announce tender and send letters to embassies of different countries for joining the fair.