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A major furniture fair in the capital drew a huge crowd on Friday as visitors flocked to the venue to check out the latest trends offered under one roof.
With the theme "My country, my hope - let's decorate homes with local furniture", the five-day fair began at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Kuril on Tuesday.
The Bangladesh Furniture Industries Owners' Association (BFIOA) hosted the fair.
The organiser said this year's event was being held on a larger scale compared to the previous ones.
Some 48 furniture and related companies participated in the fair, showcasing their latest designs and products across 278 stalls.
On Friday afternoon, visitors moved from one stall to another and also engaged in discussions with sales representatives.
The participating brands showcased different types of furniture, including bed, sofa, armchair, recliner, dining chair, bench, stool, chaise lounge, and rocking chair.
Families, students, interior designers, and corporate representatives visited various stalls, with many taking pictures and interacting with company representatives.
Mujahidul Islam, who came with his family from Mirpur, told The Financial Express he was amazed to see the variety and design innovation displayed this year.
He said furniture made in Bangladesh was no less stylish than imported products, adding that the finish and durability seemed to have improved much.
"I am planning to buy a dining set from a local brand," he said.
Hailing the overall arrangement of the fair, he said it offered a perfect opportunity for a person to have a look at the latest trends offered by different brands under one roof.
Senior Sales Executive of Akhtar Furnishers Obaydur Rahman said they were offering up to 10 per cent discount at the fair.
"The visitor turnout is good this year, thanks to the overall arrangement of the fair," he said.
However, he said the focus was more on promotion than sales.
"Those visiting us are real buyers as window shoppers usually do not visit such fairs if arranged in venues away from the city centre," he added.
Managing Director of Ayoto Furniture Dewan Atif Rashid said, "We have been drawing a good crowd from the very first day unlike the previous years."
"I think people are gaining confidence as the economy is showing signs of relief," said Mr Rashid, who is also a director of a furniture exporters' platform.
He said for the last couple of years, buyers had suppressed some of their needs and were cautious with their spending.
Highlighting the potential of the sector, he said the government was also providing support.
Recently, the government decided to provide the export-oriented operators with bank guarantee support for importing raw materials, said Mr Rashid.
Besides, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) was providing support for brands to participate in global trade shows in the US and the UAE in the coming days, he added.
Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin inaugurated the fair as the chief guest on Tuesday.
In his address, he emphasised the sector's potential and called upon entrepreneurs to increase investment for its development.
Notable brands that participated in the fair include Akhtar, Hatil, Brothers, Nadia, Ayoto, Omega, JMG, Navana, Athenas, Partex, Regal, and Legacy.
The government declared furniture as the product of the year for 2025 during the opening of the Dhaka International Trade Fair in January this year.
The furniture fair, which ends today, is open to everyone from 10:00am to 9:00pm without an entry fee.
Insiders say the domestic furniture market size is estimated at Tk 300 billion, with the sector employing around 2.5 million people.
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