Business leaders on Saturday called for establishing a single national halal authority to oversee certification and build Bangladesh's image as a trusted halal production hub, saying stronger institutional support is essential to tap the fast-growing global halal market.
They also stressed the need to ensure Shariah compliance, food safety and ethical standards across the supply chain, while prioritising export markets where Bangladesh enjoys a competitive advantage.
The recommendations came at a workshop titled 'Halal for export diversification', organised by the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) at its office in Dhaka, says a press statement.
The participants also called for upgrading laboratory testing to international standards, encouraging private investment in testing facilities and strengthening cooperation with leading halal economies such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and China.
They said closer public-private collaboration, university-led research and investment in skilled manpower and infrastructure would be key to developing a robust halal ecosystem.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Additional Secretary) Mohammad Hasan Arif attended the event as the guest of honour, while BCI President Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) chaired the workshop.
The keynote paper was presented by Dr Md Mominul Islam, Assistant Professor at IUBAT Business School. Former president of Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shabbir A. Khan and Dhaka University Economics Professor Dr Md Deen Islam joined the discussion as designated discussants.
Speaking at the event, Hasan Arif said export diversification had become increasingly important for Bangladesh and that halal products offered one of the country's most promising opportunities.
He said halal economy extends well beyond food and agricultural products, encompassing a wide range of sectors where Bangladesh could build a competitive edge.
However, he identified weak coordination among government agencies as a major obstacle and assured participants of the EPB's support to expand exports.
BCI President Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury said Bangladesh must accelerate industrial development and diversify exports to prepare for its graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category and achieve the government's target of becoming a $1 trillion economy with 10 million jobs by 2034.
He noted that ready-made garments account for about 82 per cent of the country's exports, while halal exports stand at only about $850 million. In contrast, the global halal market is projected to reach $9.45 trillion by 2034, driven by growing demand for products that meet health and ethical standards.
"With only 20 per cent of current global demand being met, this sector offers Bangladesh immense untapped potential," he said, adding that a unified national halal brand and better coordination among government agencies would be critical to capturing a larger share of the market.
During the discussion, several business representatives alleged that companies seeking halal certification from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the Islamic Foundation were often asked to make unofficial payments, including payments linked to export volumes.
They also claimed that obtaining halal certification in Bangladesh was costly and that BSTI-issued certificates are not recognised in Saudi Arabia because of the absence of a mutual recognition agreement.
As a result, many exporters are forced to obtain certification from India, Thailand or Singapore to access the Saudi market, they said.
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