Wrapping-up rush at DITF

A big buzz resounded through Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF-2017) Friday as visitors rushed in the country's biggest trade exposition on the last weekend before the curtain falls.
A large number of people from all strata rushed to the fair on the day as it is set to conclude on January 31 and it was the last Friday for them got to visit the month-long trade carnival.
Organisers were seen passing hectic time to manage such rush, and they also assigned some extra people and increased the number of ticket counters to ensure discipline and smooth flow for entry tickets. "The reason of today's record-breaking presence is today is the last Friday and last opportunity indeed for many to visit the fair," said Kamrul Hasan, one of the representatives of the organisers.
He said same swarmed look will also be seen in all of the remaining days as only four days are left to wrap up the fair.
"Besides, I think those who have missed earlier will try to come. Besides, we see at the last stage traders also usually provide attractive offers including higher discount rates, more price concessions and some attractive offers," he added.
Though a good number of customers were seen in all of the stalls, significant rush was seen at the outlets of electronic products, kitchenware, home appliances, artificial jewellery and food items.
As the fair is at the last stage, different local and international outlets also adopted different policies like extra discount, more price concessions and 'buy one, get one free' options to increase their last-time sale and unload their possessions.
Towshik Islam, a sales official of B Bond, a clothing stall at the fair, told the FE that they increased their discount rates and gave more price concessions on the occasion of last stage of the fair.
"We have increased our discount rate to 20 per cent and price concessions to Tk 400 to Tk 500 on most of our items," he added.
Dipankar Talukdar, a manager of an outlet of the Indian Pavilion at the trade show, said at this very last stage they are giving manifold offers, including buy one, get one, price concession and some extra gift items. Same tricks of the trade were also adopted by different stalls, mainly clothing, home appliances, kitchenware, artificial jewellery and food-item outlets.
Moshiur Rahman, a student of Dhaka University, told the FE that he bought a blazer, some pants and home appliances at concessional prices.
"Generally at the last stage traders offer attractive discount and price concession and I just availed the opportunity today," he added.
Maisah Mehjabin, a housewife who came from Asulia with his family, said every year she comes to the trade fair to buy different stuffs, especially some dresses, kitchenware and home appliances, too.
"Today I bought most of the items with discount and concessional prices," she added.
And most of the traders also expressed their satisfaction about this year's response.
Md Salekin Shakil, outlet manager of Electro Mart Limited, said they are satisfied with this year's response as after 10 days the fair gained momentum with good presence on most of the days and all of the holidays drew a significant number of visitors.
"I have been representing Electro Mart Limited for three consecutive years but I witness that this year response is fairly good compared to previous years'," he added. Saidur Rahman, a sales official of Kiam, a stall of home appliances, echoed Salekin's speech, saying on most of the weekends they witnessed huge gathering and it is comparatively more than that of the last few years.
    wazeddu@yahoo.com