Bangladesh Accumulator & Battery Manufacturers' Association (BABMA) has decried the unabated establishment of 'illegal' battery manufacturing units across the country.
The BABMA has also alleged that the 'unauthorised' battery manufacturers have long been involved in illegal and hazardous use of acid, affecting overall environment.
The association has already raised the issue with several concerned state-run entities seeking actions to stop such malpractices, BABMA Secretary Shahidul Islam told the FE on Sunday.
"We wrote to the Department of Environment (DoE), Deputy Commissioners of different districts and National Board of Revenue (NBR) in this connection," he said.
A good number of foreign workers are employed with these unauthorised battery manufacturing factories in the country without any 'employment visa', Shahidul Islam alleged.
The BABMA also alleged that the sub-standard batteries have flooded market and inefficient use of the same is rampant in the country in absence of proper monitoring.
In most of the cases, these batteries are being used in three-wheelers, also called as autos, in suburban areas, he said.
A large number of such sub-standard batteries are also being used in IPS (instant power supply) machinery and solar panel systems, it has been alleged.
A section of business people with support from some corrupt officials of concerned state-run departments have installed around two dozens of low-quality battery manufacturing units across the country, BABMA officials said.
These 'unauthorised' battery manufacturing factories neither have legally obtained permissions to set up such plants nor got license from Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), they further said.
It is alleged that they are purchasing, using and storing acid illegally.
Most of these 'illegal' battery manufacturing units are located in Khulna, Bagerhat, Narsingdi and around Dhaka city, the officials said.
Many privately-owned captive power plants are allegedly assisting such illegal battery manufacturers by supplying their factories with electricity.
These private captive power plant owners are also allegedly charging a large amount of money as electricity bill, Shahidul Islam added.
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