BSTI to set up 5 zonal offices
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Monira Munni
The government will expand the operations of state-run quality watchdog BSTI to five districts in a move to build up the capacity of the institution, officials said. They said the government is setting up zonal offices in five districts around the country under a project called expansion and strengthening of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) in Mymensing, Faridpur, Comilla, Cox's Bazar and Rangpur. Under the project, BSTI would purchase modern testing kit and equipment so that it could improve the quality of products and metrological service to ensure weight of products, they added. "The project is now awaiting the approval of the Planning Commission," AK Fazlul Ahad, director general of BSTI, told the FE. The agency will set up the BSTI office at Faridpur this year because it has secured the required land from Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), he said. Khalilur Rahman, director (Administration) said the cost of the project is estimated at Tk 411 million and it will be funded by the government. The expansion programme will be completed by June 2014, he said, adding that the work would start sometime in June. "We hope to launch the project by June after getting the commission approval," he said. The zonal offices will conduct chemical test of food, metrological and certification, he explained. "The expansion is aimed at making sure that quality is maintained and consumers; rights are protected even at the district level. We can't compromise with quality," Mr Rahman said. "This is part of our decentralisation process. Businesses should obtain certification in districts," he added.
The government will expand the operations of state-run quality watchdog BSTI to five districts in a move to build up the capacity of the institution, officials said. They said the government is setting up zonal offices in five districts around the country under a project called expansion and strengthening of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) in Mymensing, Faridpur, Comilla, Cox's Bazar and Rangpur. Under the project, BSTI would purchase modern testing kit and equipment so that it could improve the quality of products and metrological service to ensure weight of products, they added. "The project is now awaiting the approval of the Planning Commission," AK Fazlul Ahad, director general of BSTI, told the FE. The agency will set up the BSTI office at Faridpur this year because it has secured the required land from Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), he said. Khalilur Rahman, director (Administration) said the cost of the project is estimated at Tk 411 million and it will be funded by the government. The expansion programme will be completed by June 2014, he said, adding that the work would start sometime in June. "We hope to launch the project by June after getting the commission approval," he said. The zonal offices will conduct chemical test of food, metrological and certification, he explained. "The expansion is aimed at making sure that quality is maintained and consumers; rights are protected even at the district level. We can't compromise with quality," Mr Rahman said. "This is part of our decentralisation process. Businesses should obtain certification in districts," he added.