Ministry of Commerce has decided to continue the ongoing Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) following health guidelines as the country faces fresh surge in coronavirus infections.

“The fair started only a few days ago and no new decision has been taken to stop it. So it will continue,” Additional Secretary (Exports) of the ministry Hafizur Rahman told the Daily Sun on Tuesday.

After a pause of one-year due to the pandemic, the 26th edition of the DITF kicked off on 1 January.

Like other major events, the DITF also resumed as the pandemic situation improved in the country and most economic activities returned to normalcy.

But with the detection of new variants—Delta and Omicron—and rising cases Bangladesh, the government has  put in place new health guidelines to check spread of the virus.

The new 11-point guidelines issued by the Cabinet Division will be effective from Thursday.

Restrictions have been put on all kinds of social, political and religious programmes until further notice.

Besides, the public transports have to take passengers half of their capacity.

This year the fair is being held at its new venue Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal instead of its traditional venue at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka.  Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) under the commerce ministry holds its flagship event every year aiming to promote the country’s export-oriented industries.

This year a total of 225 stalls, including 23 pavilions, 27 mini pavilions, 160 stalls and 15 food stalls, have been leased out to various local and international organisations.