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Construction works of the much-talked-about modern structure for holding important trade shows will begin soon in city's Old Airport premises, official sources said.
The proposed permanent infrastructure is aimed at saving huge money every year for constructing makeshift stalls and pavilions, especially for the largest Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF), they mentioned.
"Necessary groundworks are progressing to establish a permanent site for DITF and other important exhibitions at the said location," a senior Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) official told the FE.
The government of China has assured the authorities of providing necessary grant for the project to be implemented by the Ministry of Commerce, said the official.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect has recently been signed between the governments of Bangladesh and China, he added without going into further details.
The EPB officials, however, said a total of 39.5 acres of land at the Old Airport premises - near the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre - have already been acquired for the proposed project.
Some 17 acres of land has also already been registered in favour of the EPB, officials confirmed.
Process is on to make a layout plan for the proposed project as the authorities are thinking to start the construction works within the next few months, they said.
Officials further said modern display centres, conference halls, banking and warehouse facilities, media centres and administrative offices are to be housed there.
The project would take at least a couple of years to be completed, they said.
Meanwhile, the month-long DITF-2005 begins tomorrow (Saturday) at its usual venue in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
Prime Minister Kaleda Zia is expected to inaugurate the fair as the chief guest, the EPB officials.
This year, the fair authorities have undertaken some special security measures for holding the event against the backdrop of the growing incidents of militant attacks in the country, organisers said.
The measures include installation of close circuit television (CCTV) cameras at various strategic locations of the fair ground and arch-detectors at the entry points to prevent any terrorist incident there, they said.
Besides, additional police forces, trained dogs and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel will also be deployed in and around the fair premises.
Some 365 local companies along with 22 foreign firms representing 11 countries will participate in the DITF-05.
The countries are: Pakistan, India, China, Australia, Iran, Thailand, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and USA.
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