Dhaka, Jan 31 (V7N) — The month-long Dhaka International Trade Fair is coming to an end today, with traders expecting strong sales on the final day as Saturday is a public holiday.

Since morning, a noticeable influx of visitors has been observed at the fairgrounds. Traders and organizers believe that sales on the closing day will be comparatively higher this year due to the holiday, offering a final opportunity for buyers to take advantage of discounted prices.

Traders said that this year’s fair faced several challenges. Due to a period of national mourning, the fair effectively lost three operational days. In addition, unfavorable weather conditions at the beginning of the fair and the ongoing national election atmosphere slowed business activities.

However, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the overall picture remains positive. The EPB reported that the number of buyers and visitors increased by at least 15 percent compared to last year, while VAT collection rose by 8 percent.

Although weekday crowds were relatively lower, the fair saw overflowing crowds on holidays, particularly during weekends. On the final day, stalls across various pavilions are offering discounts ranging from 10 percent to 70 percent, along with special prizes and gift vouchers to attract last-minute buyers.

It is worth noting that although the fair was originally scheduled to open on January 1, the 30th edition of the Dhaka International Trade Fair was officially inaugurated on January 3 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BBCFEC) in Sector 4 of Purbachal.

With today marking the final day, traders remain hopeful that strong holiday turnout will help offset earlier losses and end the fair on a positive note.

END/SMA/AJ