Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that converting the traditional method of measurement to digital will ensure the availability of goods and services in the correct measurement along with access to open information and will contribute to sustainable development. In a message given today on the occasion of ‘World Metrology Day’ on May 20, the Prime Minister said, ‘We have built Digital Bangladesh. Measurement of digital methods is a complete, reliable, and important part of business and consumer level. The Prime Minister said, ‘On the initiative of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), the national standards body of Bangladesh like all member countries of the International Organization of Weights and Measures – International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and International Bureau of Legal Metrology (BIML) I am happy to know that ‘World Metrology Day’ is being celebrated.”He said, ‘This year I feel that the theme of World Metrology Day – ‘Measurement helps the global food system’ is apt in the current context. Sheikh Hasina said, the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 1956, when he was in charge of the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Labour, Anti-corruption and Rural Assistance Department of the then coalition government, took multifaceted plans and steps for the development of domestic industries. With his sole efforts, BSTI became a member of the International Standards Organization (ISO) in 1974 and Bangladesh Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1975 and continues to work as National Codex Contact Point (NCCP). Since the membership of ISO and Codex and later membership of BIPM and BIML, BSTI as the National Standards Body (NSB) of the country as per the standards formulated by the International Organization for Standardization and Measurement has been responsible for various products of Bangladesh such as food, clothing, housing, health, and education materials and Working tirelessly to standardize machinery and ensure accurate weights and measures. He said, ‘We have formulated the Weights and Measures Standards Act in 2018 and Product Packaging Regulations in 2021. The Prime Minister said that BSTI’s officers and employees are working tirelessly to protect the interests of consumers with the help of various levels of stakeholders across the country by conducting mobile courts and special operations to eliminate acts against the public interest. BSTI’s steps in upholding the fair rights of the people and creating a sound business-friendly environment are widely appreciated. He expressed optimism that this year’s program of metrology day will encourage all concerned including buyers-consumers, producers, importers, researchers, and BSTI officials-employees to be more active. The Prime Minister said, “I believe that digital methods will be implemented in all areas including measurement with the collective efforts of all and industrialists, businessmen and BSTI will play a more proactive role in building the golden Bangladesh of the father of the nation’s dream by transforming it into a developed-rich smart Bangladesh by 2041. She wished the overall success of all the programs undertaken on the occasion of ‘World Metrology Day 2023’.
