A fair in review

When noisy traffic with enthusiasts from all around the city gather at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar for the one and only festival that January has to offer, we know for a fact that the month long Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is finally here. Like every other year, this January, companies are representing themselves with eye-catching stalls, showcasing their latest products for customers. This week Star Lifestyle takes walk through the fancy pavilions and brings to you the best stores to check out, the best places to must-visit and finally tosses in a light-hearted take on the many different kind of people the DTF is sure to attract! Check out pages 5,6, and 7 for all the inside scoop into Dhaka International Trade Fair 2017. 

Six people you meet at DITF

As the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) kicks off to a smooth start, people have started to rush to the fairground in the thousands. Every weekend, the masses make a happening, and slightly intimidating sight, which in any way will not deter you from visiting the Fair, as the crowd is essentially an integral attraction of DITF! Here are some of the odd individuals you just may come across -

THE HOARDERS

Does not matter if they already have 50 shawls in the exact same shade of pink, or 10 non-stick frying-pans; the fair only comes once a year and it is simply unacceptable to miss this opportunity to go into a shopping frenzy! 

This is the tribe that you would find making the most of the fair - walking for over six hours straight, juggling over twenty shopping bags and yet somehow still managing to find space for that fifth red plastic mug that they just bought.

THE BITTER ONES

“Trade fair? Oh, that same old rotten thing?” 

This is the crowd that points out everything wrong with the trade fair. Every single year! They even resolve to never come again, which often is the first vow they break come January the next year! 

THE FOREIGN HUNTERS 

The bunch that hogs the Pakistani shawls and Indian shalwar kameez sets, these are the dedicated ones who will seek out the authentic Korean skincare shop among the countless dupes that exist. These people will only be seen at the Thailand pavilions buying the sweetened pickles or even in the Eurasian (yes that exists!) pavilions buying Turkish lamps or whatever fancy things they sell. After all, where do you find Iranian carpets if not at the fair? 

THE WANDERERS

Just because your pocket is not cooperating does not mean you need to miss out on the festive vibe! Often students, the wanderers, can be seen laughing and hanging out with friends near a 'fuchka' stall or cosily sitting with their significant other on one of the benches. 

Do not think all wanderers are fun people with empty pockets! There are plenty of poets among them too who are taking this chance to contemplate life and find the meaning of human existence with their hours of what-might-seem-aimless-but-truly-are-just-dreamy wanderings. 

THE SCREAMERS 

If you thought Gausia's little shop assistants were overdoing it with the “afa, ashen na!”, you have the fair vendors to take things up a notch! Shouting at the top of their voices, these people will take every necessary step possible on their part to promote their shop. From having three guards to convince you to check their store out to giving irresistible sales offers, the screamers will make sure you know how amazing their store is. 

THE COOL CROWD 

While you have the screamers overworking themselves, the cool crowd almost effortlessly makes their sales. Their bored looks, broken Bengali and foreign facial features are enough to charm you. These are the vendors you will find in the foreign pavilions nodding or shaking their heads at your attempts to bargain and speaking in their native language amongst themselves. Nothing suggests authenticity like an actual foreigner selling the goods, does it? 

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed