International trade fair complex at purbachal : an event platform for branding a new city

Abstract

Bangladesh being a developing country needs to be spotted or marked in the world map carrying a brand image to compete with fellow countries of her surroundings. Branding Bangladesh or a part of it to the world through its Architecture might be a challenge and a logical attempt of placing a dot in the map. Mega events have had their impacts on the host countries in terms of development in any sector. Place making or branding strategies can be applied in this case to promote a country to worldwide through hosting a event and creating the event platform or base in the host country as a strong architectural icon. The lnternational Trade Fair is one of the most popular events to hold public attention as well as draw the foreign world and get exposure. Trade events of EXPO events have played a successful role in putting the world's eyes on the hosting location. The exercise of branding through Architectural lcon is executed through picking up the lnternational Trade Fair as an event catalyst. The Export Promotion Bureau, EPB under The Ministry of Trade and Commerce has a proposal for building a permanent complex for Trade fair and other Expo events outside Dhaka in a suitable location. Purbachal is the future city being developed in the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka with potential of tremendous development. The proposal for the permanent complex to be built for the Expo is at Purbachal by the government of Bangladesh. The suitable location is besides the River Shitalakhshya with potential of a waterfront retreat along with the development of the permanent expo complex. The paper attempts to describe the process of developing the project and explaining how it plays the role of a catalyst for place making of a future city.