Dhaka International Trade Fair

Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) (Bangla: ঢাকা আন্তর্জাতিক বাণিজ্য মেলা) is the biggest, most popular and most vibrant fair in Bangladesh. It is organized jointly by the Export Promotion Bureau and the Ministry of Commerce of the Government of Bangladesh and is held at Sher-E-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka on the west side of Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. DITF has been held annually since the first fair was held on 1 December 1995. The entrance fee is less than US $1. It is open everyday from 10 am to 10 pm and is held from the first week of January to the first week of February every year. Thousands of people visit the fair to enjoy a wonderful day shopping for the finest products from Bangladesh and overseas. In addition to Bangladeshi companies, many other companies from around the world participate routinely. There are country specific foreign sections at the fair, which has nearly seven hundred mini-stalls, general stalls, premium stalls, mini-pavilions and mega-pavilions. Lots of local and foreign products are showcased at the fair including electronics, cars, porcelain wares, machinery, carpets, toys, ceramics, fabrics, melamine wares, sanitary products, handicrafts, ready-made garments, home appliances, processed foods, furniture, textiles, plastic goods, jute products, winter clothes, leather goods, cosmetics, sports goods, jewelry, etc.

Various food stalls offer mouth-watering local and foreign items to customers wishing to take a break from walking around. The visitors are drawn to the numerous attractive discounts, special offers, introductory prices, gifts and lotteries of DITF. A shopping spree begins from day one and gathers momentum from the middle of January. The last seven days see hectic buying with very large crowds during holidays and especially during weekends, which are Fridays and Saturdays in Bangladesh.

The first thing to do when you enter the fair is to find the layout map of all the stalls and pavilions and make a plan of where you would like to go (http://www.ditf-epb.gov.bd/download_layout). If you are a shopping enthusiast, make a mental note of the direction you want to go and where amenities such as washrooms, ATM booths and food stalls are located in order to successfully explore the fair. But don’t expect to cover the entire fair in one visit! Since the fair ground is enormous, it is very important to wear a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Firemen, police and hundreds of close-circuit cameras provide comprehensive security. There are many ATM booths of various banks, which accept all major debit and credit cards, where you can withdraw money in local currency if you need extra cash. Other special facilities include medical centers; mother and child daycare center; children’s park; eco-park; e-Shop; healthcare center; a mosque; over fifty toilets; and three car parks accommodating nearly a thousand cars!

The fair is an good opportunity to take friends and family out, enjoy music, have delicious food and indulge in an amazing shopping escapade. Dhaka International Trade Fair is a excellent opportunity for businesses to build local and foreign networks, establish contacts in Bangladesh and sell the most outstanding products.