Month-long 30th Dhaka International Trade Fair begins tomorrow

The month-long 30th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF)-2026 will begin tomorrow (2 January) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal.

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin is scheduled to inaugurate the trade fair at 10am.

The event was originally slated to begin on January 1, but the government was rescheduled to Saturday following the death of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has confirmed that the invitation cards already distributed for the original opening ceremony will remain valid for the rescheduled date on 3 January.

At a recent press conference, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said that the use of single-use plastic and polythene bags has been completely banned at this year's fair. 

"Any stall or pavilion found using polythene bags will not be considered for any awards. As an alternative, jute bags will be supplied to visitors at affordable prices through a joint initiative of the Jute Diversification Promotion Center (JDPC) and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute," he added.

The Commerce Secretary said a total of 324 stalls and pavilions will be set up at the fair this year. With the participation of 11 foreign stalls and pavilions, the event will be recognised as an international trade fair.

This year, stalls and pavilion spaces have been allocated online under various categories. An e-ticketing system has been introduced, allowing visitors to enter the fair by purchasing tickets online and scanning QR codes, in addition to on-the-spot ticket purchases. 

To facilitate transportation, dedicated Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) bus services will operate alongside concessionary-rate ride-sharing services provided by "Pathao."

Mahbubur Rahman further said that an 'Export Enclave' has been introduced for the first time this year. Under the banner "Best of Bangladesh", top products from seven export-oriented sectors, including leather and footwear and light engineering, will be showcased with the aim of enhancing engagement with foreign buyers.

He said a "Bangladesh Square" has been constructed at the fair venue to display photo exhibitions commemorating the Language Movement of 1952, the Great Liberation War, and the martyrs and injured of the July 2024 movement. Sector-based seminars and workshops will also be organised to highlight the quality of Bangladeshi products and international compliance standards.

Special zones for electronics and furniture have been arranged for foreign entrepreneurs and companies. Seating corners have been set up for senior citizens, while two children's parks will be available for children's entertainment. An open cultural centre will also be part of the fair. 

Reserved stalls have been allocated for women, persons with disabilities, cottage, handloom, textile and handicraft entrepreneurs. To encourage youth power and innovative initiatives, various seminars and cultural programmes will be held throughout the month.

Products to be displayed at the fair include local textiles, machinery, carpets, cosmetics and beauty aids, electrical and electronics goods, furniture, jute and jute products, household items, leather, artificial leather and footwear, sports goods, sanitaryware, toys, stationery, crockery, plastic and melamine polymer products, herbal and toiletries, imitation jewelry, processed food, fast food, handicrafts, home decor, and more.

The Bangladesh Square has been set up on the southeast side of the centre, the cultural centre and recreational corner on the southwest side, two children's parks on the northeast side, and a mosque on the northwest side.

Adequate ATM booths will be available for banking services. A mother and child centre will be set up for mothers and children. Other facilities include a blood collection centre, a mosque, comfortable seating for visitors, and seating corners for senior citizens.

To ensure smooth transportation for visitors, more than 200 dedicated BRTC shuttle buses will operate daily from Kuril Bishwaroad, Farmgate (Khejur Bagan/Khamarbari), Narayanganj, and Narsingdi starting from 8am. The last shuttle bus from the fairground will depart at 11pm.

The fixed fares are: Tk70 from Farmgate (Khejur Bagan/Khamarbari) to the fairground, Tk40 from Kuril Bishwaroad, Tk120 from Chashara, Tk130 from Muktarpur, Tk100 from Narsingdi, and Tk100 from the fairground to Signboard (per person).

Ticket prices are Tk50 for adults and Tk25 for children under 12. Freedom fighters, persons with disabilities, and those injured in the July movement will be allowed free entry upon showing valid cards. As in previous years, the fair will run from 9:55 am to 9:50 pm daily, and until 10:00 pm on weekly holidays.

The Dhaka International Trade Fair has been organised since 1995 under the joint initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and the Export Promotion Bureau to promote, expand, and market domestic products, support production, and create employment opportunities.

To ensure overall security, a sufficient number of police, Armed Police Battalion, RAB, intelligence agencies, and other law enforcement personnel will be deployed at and around the fairground. 

Regular patrols will be conducted by police, RAB, and the army. Private security guards have been appointed to maintain discipline at the service and VIP gates. 

Apart from this, CCTV cameras have been installed at key locations, entry gates, parking areas, and throughout the venue. Archways and metal detectors have also been installed at the entry points. Fire Service personnel will remain on standby round the clock to prevent any fire incidents.

Special importance has been given to cleanliness at this year's fair. Adequate separate toilets for men and women have been arranged inside and outside the exhibition halls. More than 200 cleaners will be engaged round the clock to maintain cleanliness.

To ensure food quality, mobile courts led by executive magistrates and supported by law enforcement agencies will conduct daily anti-adulteration drives during the fair. Five institutions have been allocated premier restaurant, premier mini-restaurant, and coffee shop facilities.

Additionally, a 500-seat cafeteria inside the exhibition centre will serve quality food at fixed prices in a pleasant environment. Doctors and patient care attendants will be available round the clock to provide free primary healthcare and medical advice. 

The fair will have ample car parking facilities, including a two-storey car parking building accommodating more than 500 vehicles, additional parking on six acres of land outside the exhibition hall, and three large parking areas, including the RAJUK cattle market field. 

A temporary secretariat has been set up to monitor overall activities, along with an information centre to provide all necessary information to visitors.