The Dhaka International trade fair ended yesterday as unhappy stall owners packed-up their pavilions having failed to generate expected returns.
The commerce minister, however, pointed to higher export orders than previous years, and claimed had the BNP-Jamaat alliance not pressed their political programmemes, the initiative would be even more successful.
“If BNP and its allies had not announced their programmeme that included hartals, blockades, petrol bombing, much more people would gather in good manner in this fair. But we have ended the fair without any hazards and troubles,” said Tofail Ahmed, the commerce minister.
The chief guest of the closing ceremony of this year’s trade fair – the Export Promotion Bureau flagship – continued: “We have received export orders for goods worth Tk95 crore this year which was Tk15 crore higher than the previous year. This shows, no obstacles, hartals, blockades or any other militant activity can hamper our economic growth.
“It is now proven that we can continue the country’s largest month-long fair in any political situation,”
Painting a different picture, when several stall owners and representatives shared their experience with Dhaka Tribune, they expressed frustration and anxiety.
Walton Additional Director (Marketing) Md Raihan said: “It is true that because of the heated political situation, the public turnout was lower than previous years. Since the fair is a platform for rising companies to promote their products and also for the established companies to promote their new products, the depleting turnout has harmed such companies greatly.”
Md Riaz Uddin, a salesman endorsed the notion that turnout was poor: “I have been working as salesman at the DITF for 8 years. This is first time I have passed lazy hours in most fair days.”
Even a ten-day extension was unable to pick-up the low sales volume, said fair participants. The fair, scheduled to close on January 31, was extended to February 10 at their request.
The closure of the traditionally month-long fair had been delayed for ten days last year as well, due to the unstably political scenario surrounding the Januray 5 elections.
However, such a long extension never occurred in the last 18 DITFs.
Other speakers at the closing ceremony, instead of talking about the business success, emphasised on the proper completion, and sound management of DITF 15.
The programme, held at the traditional DITF premises at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, was presided over by EPB vice-chairman Subhasish Basu while president of parliamentary standing committee on commerce Tazul Islam Chowdhury, commerce ministry Senior Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamun, The Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmad were also present at the programme as special guest.
This year 41 companies from 14 countries participated in the fair, Pakistan, India, Thailand, USA, UK, UAE, Iran, Turkey, South Korea, China, Germany were among the participants.