A government instruction makes it a must-do for key scientific agencies to keep their laboratory-testing services open round the clock, weekends and public holidays no exception, to cut the cost of doing business and accelerate trade facilitation.
Officials say the Ministry of Science and Technology under the reformist interim government has directed Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) and Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) to ensure uninterrupted analytical services on Fridays and Saturdays-a two-day weekend. The move aims to ease import-export procedures and support faster revenue collection.
Following the government directive, both organisations have dispatched instructions to their regional offices to make necessary arrangements to keep analytical-service cells operational during weekly holidays, too.
According to officials, uninterrupted laboratory operations will significantly reduce waiting time for industrial testing and certification - delays that often slow customs clearance and increase operational costs for businesses.
Industry stakeholders have long argued that limited laboratory hours hinder the timely release of imported goods and the certification of export consignments, ultimately affecting competitiveness and compliance on the global market.
The new directive is expected to streamline these processes and support faster trade cycles, particularly in sectors such as garments, seafood, food imports and industrial raw materials.
Speaking to The Financial Express, Md Anwar Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, says the government has observed that businesses frequently face delays in receiving test results, leading to higher port demurrage charges.
"Considering these challenges and aiming to reduce business costs, we have instructed our research and testing agencies to take the necessary steps to provide a one-stop service," he adds.
"As service-providing agencies, government institutions must deliver services that reflect the needs of their customers," he explains the motto of trade-promotion measure.
The Financial Express has obtained an official letter from BCSIR's Chattogram laboratory informing the Customs House commissioner that its Analytical Service Cell will remain open on Fridays and Saturdays to facilitate industrial testing, certification and other trade-related analytical services.
The letter states that the decision is made "in public interest and for the purpose of facilitating import and export as well as ensuring revenue mobilisation".
The firman has also been forwarded to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and other related offices for necessary action.
BCSIR Chairman Dr Samina Ahmed says regional offices have been instructed to deliver test reports in the shortest possible time to support and promote business operations. However, she notes that certain biological tests - such as fungal analysis - require four to five days of incubation, which may extend the testing period.
"BCSIR is committed to delivering test report at a minimum time of four days," says the Science Lab chief.
The Atomic Energy Centre in Chattogram has also initiated steps to keep its specialised laboratories open during holidays. These include the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (ACL) and the Radiation Testing and Monitoring Laboratory (RTML). The ACL, equipped with advanced instruments such as a double-beam atomic absorption spectrophotometer and multiparameter testing equipment, conducts heavy metal analysis in soil, sediment, industrial materials, groundwater, marine resources and biological samples.
The RTML plays a critical role in radiation safety, particularly in examining imported and exportable food items for radioactive contamination. It also performs radiation testing for environmental samples, industrial facilities, radiotherapy centres, X-ray units and shipbreaking yards.
Talking to The Financial Express, BAEC Chairman Dr Md Mazibur Rahman says the organisation can now deliver certain test results within four hours, significantly reducing turnaround time.
Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, Director of BGMEA, welcomes the initiative as a positive step but says state-owned agencies must further improve their efficiency and capacity. The government and customs officials should change their mindset and adopt a more service-oriented approach.
He notes that customs authorities sometimes send samples to laboratories at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), which is time-consuming and increases port charges and overall business costs.
According to customs officials and industry insiders, customs typically takes up to 72 hours to release goods--this period being treated as "port charge-free."
Thereafter, importers must pay charges in different slabs. Importers must also submit bills of entry within 21 days of air-cargo unloading; they may apply for a 10-day extension. Failure to release goods within the allowed timeframe results in the consignment being auctioned, along with penalties for the importer.
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