DHAKA, Oct 21, 2021 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated

the newly built Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center
(BBCFEC) at capital's outskirts Purbachal aiming to organize the trade fairs
at permanent and modern facilities.

   The premier opened the center joining virtually from her official
residence Ganabhaban here.

   The exhibition centre will be the permanent venue for different product-
based fairs throughout the year, Project Director Mohammad Rezaul Karim told
BSS on Wednesday.

   Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) undertook the BBCFEC Construction Project in
Purbachal New City Project Area with co-financing of Bangladesh and China, he
said.

   China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has built the
exhibition centre on 26 acres of land.

   The project director said the BBCFEC has 33,000 square metres of floor
space, housing two exhibition halls covering 15,418 square meters each, which
have the facilities to feature more than 800 stalls.

   The modern exhibition centre has its own water treatment plant, CCTV
control room, WiFi system for internet, a modern fountain, car parking, fire
extinguishing system and remote-controlled entrance gate, he added.

   With Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi in the chair, Export Promotion Bureau
(EPB) Vice Chairman AHM Ahsan delivered the welcome address.

  Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming and Commerce Secretary Tapan
Kanti Ghosh also spoke at BBCFEC.

   A documentary on the development of Bangladesh and BBCFEC was screened at
the function.

   Meanwhile, EPB is planning to organize the 26th edition of Dhaka
International Trade Fair (DITF) at the BBCFEC, as it has received the nod
from the commerce ministry to hold the exposition, according to the officials
familiar with the process.

   DITF has been organized 25 times since 1995 at Sher-e-Banglanagar in
Dhaka.

   The government took the initiative to shift the fair to Purbachal to avoid
the severe traffic congestion during the DITF time in Sher-e-Banglanagar,
where the key government offices are located.