The current government is working to make Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) a strong institution of international standards. Effective initiatives have been taken by the Ministry of Industries to increase the capacity of BSTI. Recruitment of skilled manpower, modernization of equipment, establishment of world-class laboratory, launch of one-stop service etc. programs are being implemented in the institution. If these programs are fully implemented, BSTI will transform into an international standard institution.
The minister said these things while addressing the chief guest at a discussion meeting titled ‘Today’s Measurement in Building a Sustainable Future’ organized by BSTI, an organization under the Ministry of Industry, on the occasion of World Metrology Day at BSTI meeting room in Tejgaon of the capital.
Zakia Sultana, senior secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Mahbubul Alam, president of FBCCI, spoke as special guests in the discussion meeting. BSTI Director General (Grade-1) SM Ferdous Alam gave a welcome speech and vote of thanks was given by BSTI Director (Metrology) Engineer Md. Nurul Islam.
The minister said that BSTI, an ISO member institution, has been working with great reputation and success in ensuring quality consumer goods for the common consumers of the country since its inception. He said that various initiatives and steps have been taken to modernize BSTI in the context of the current global and regional system. Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun said, 10 regional offices with laboratories for BSTI, conversion of Chittagong and Khulna BSTI offices into offices with modern laboratories to provide assistance in import and export trade, 68 more for expansion of BSTI’s materials and chemistry testing laboratoriesSteps have been taken to set up new labs and modernize existing labs, issue BSTI Halal certificates to increase exports of domestic products, set up 21 new labs and modernize existing labs and create necessary manpower to ensure modern services of weights and measures. Moreover, initiatives have been taken to expand the activities of BSTI from the department to the district level.
The Minister of Industry said that proper measurement is an important means of the efforts of the United Nations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Considering that, this year’s theme is important. He said accurate measurements play a vital role in understanding and tackling complex environmental challenges such as climate change and air pollution. Through proper calculation and monitoring, the amount of carbon in the environment will be known which will in turn play a helpful role in preventing carbon pollution.
In the speech of the special guest, Senior Industry Secretary Zakia Sultana said that fair weights and measures are mentioned in verses 7, 8 and 9 of Surah Ar Rahman of the Holy Quran. And BSTI, an institution under the Ministry of Industry, is working to implement it. For this BSTI officials have to work with honesty, integrity and sincerity. Only then the consumers and consumers of the products will have their fair rights and they will not be cheated. He said, if the correct quality and measurement of the product can be ensured, people will be encouraged to buy quality products even if the price is a little higher. The special guest said that it is necessary to ensure the accreditation of our food and medical laboratories to protect our public health. The senior secretary emphasized on public awareness in this regard.
The discussion meeting was attended by industrial entrepreneurs, businessmen, related parties from various industrial institutions, including the officials of the Ministry of Industry and various departments under its jurisdiction.
Note that every year on May 20, like other countries in the world, ‘World Metrology Day’ is celebrated in Bangladesh. International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and International Bureau of Legal Metrology (BIML) have decided this year’s theme ‘We measure today for a sustainable tomorrow’; Whose Bengali philosophy is ‘Measurement of today in building a sustainable future’.