Microbiology lab to relieve pain of BSTI certificate seekers
BSTI Chittagong is now able to test only 48 products out of 148
Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) Chittagong regional office at Agrabad.Photo: STAR
A microbiology laboratory is being set up in the Bangladesh Standard Testing Institution (BSTI) in Chittagong to cope with the pressure of testing 148 products. The BSTI, the only institution to oversee the quality and quantity of products, is now able to test only 48 products out of 148, both imported and homemade, that need certificates from the institution before going to the consumers. The BSTI is to send the remaining samples to Dhaka, which is a matter of time consuming apart from the hassle the certificate seekers face due to lack of a microbiology laboratory, sources at the BSTI said. The institution is able to test only 18 out of 35 imported products while 17 others are to send in the capital for tests and certificates. Besides, the certificate seekers are to take the sample to Dhaka on their own, they said. Tapas Mallik, a senior chemist of the BSTI, said for lack of a microbiological lab they cann't conduct a bacterial test for some of the products like water and milk. Of the imported products, they can test biscuit, toilet soap, soya bean oil, coconut oil, honey, toothpaste, jam-jelly, sauce, ceramic table ware, shampoo, lozenge, sunflower oil, chips, skin powder, skin cream, tin, instant noodles and after shave lotion, Tapas said. He said the new lab will be equipped with equipments like auto clave, incubator, hot air oven and analytical balance to conduct the tests. Mohammad Rezaul Haque, assistant director (Metrology) of the BSTI, said they informed the matter to Dhaka as the Chittagong Customs Authority asks them to provide test reports within 72 hours. Later, the government sanctioned Tk 15 lakh to set up the lab which will help forward the test reports within a short time, he said. The BSTI Acting Deputy Director Rezaul Karim Sarker told The Daily Star that after setting up of the lab, the institution will become almost a self-dependent organisation and help them meet the demand for testing the products within a shortest possible time. He said the work to set up the laboratory will be completed by March. The BSTI that started its journey in Chittagong in 2000 is now running with a workforce of 36 officials, technicians and staffs in the Agrabad area in the port city. Tests are being conducted on weight and measure, certification of marks, chemical and physical testing in two laboratories under four wings in the BSTI Chittagong.
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