More manpower for BSTI soon

The government plans to strengthen the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) with additional manpower and modern equipment, said the industries minister yesterday.

“BSTI has been suffering from a severe crisis in manpower. We are trying to strengthen it to ensure the quality of our products,” Dilip Barua told a delegation from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) at his office.

He said the government has already approved the appointment of 113 new persons in BSTI on Tuesday, as part of the process.

The minister urged the manufacturers to be cautious against the production and campaign of contaminated and substandard products and strictly follow the quality guidance set by BSTI.

Barua said the government considers formulating a draft for a new industrial policy by April.

“We previously had an industrial policy that was never implemented properly and lacked industry-friendly directions,” he said.

“We are going to form a committee soon in this regard, which would emphasise attracting investment from both local, non-resident Bangladeshi and foreign entrepreneurs, create more employment and develop and patron the local industries,” he added.

Barua said the government also considers reviewing the bank's high interest rate, seen as a major problem that hinders new entrepreneurship.

Zafar Osman, president of DCCI, said the government should review the present duty structure and take an initiative to reduce import duty on raw materials and ingredients for our local industries.

He said the government should take specific measures to patron and safeguard the small and medium enterprises, including the light engineering sector.

He stressed developing a special industrial zone for different sectors, such as RMG, pharmaceuticals and leather industry, and creating a database on the entire industrial sector.

He also emphasised organising training programmes for labourers in different factories that would eventually improve the present condition of the industrial sector.

MS Shekil Chowdhury, senior vice president, and Mohammad Sirajuddin Malik, vice president of the chamber, were also present at the meeting.