Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of RRAN-RFL Group, has urged the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) to make standards of international level for products as the country’s standards do not correspond to the ones of other countries particularly of developed nations.
He made the emphasis while speaking as special guest at a discussion on the occasion of World Standards Day held at Bangladesh Krishibid Institution in Dhaka on Tuesday, October 14.
Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President AHM Safiquzzaman, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, and BSTI Director General SM Ferdous were, among others, present at the programme.
Ahsan Khan urged BSTI to ensure the proper supervision of the products which have standards, and swiftly make these for the products which have no standards so that the producers can reach standard goods to the consumers.
"As much as the people can trust the BSTI in case of products' quality, the country will move forward. This government has made a large investment in BSTI and we want to utilise this," he said.
“Bangladesh's laboratory is not accredited, and that is why, when we export products to India or other countries, they test these again that consumes time and costs," he noted.
Stating that Bangladesh is the second largest Muslim country but other Muslim countries do not want to accept its halal certificate, he said, "We need to work in such a way that countries like Malaysia accept Bangladesh's halal certificate. It will increase our export and open the door of potentiality."
Stressing the good relationship between the officials of public and private institutions, the CEO of PRAN-RFL Group, said, "Not only for conducting mobile court, BSTI officials should meet the businesses with development court."
Both groups will have to work together with ethics and values for safe food and standards, he added.
NH/MSU