DHAKA: Bangladesh is going to join the International Electro-technical Commission (ICC), the international-standard agency, as the government has given clearance to the industries ministry to get the ICC membership.  

Secretary of the Industries Ministry Dewan Zakir Hossain in a letter last month sought the permission of the Cabinet Division to join the ICC. The Cabinet Division last week gave the clearance.

The industries secretary told BanglaNews24.com.bd, “The Government has given the permission to join ICC.”  The Cabinet Division, after a meeting gave the clearance, he said.

Now there is no bar to being an associate member of ICC. “ We are hoping to become member by August next after meeting some formalities,” Hossain said.

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) is a member of the International Organizations for Standardization (ISO), the global standard guardian since 1974.  

Since BSTI is still not the member of ICC, the country is facing problem in applying the ICC quality standard in Bangladeshi electronic and electrical goods, because ICC is the certifying agency of international standards in electronic and electrical goods.

The secretary in his letter to the Cabinet Division wrote: the ICC certification on the electronic and electronic goods is very essential. Since the BSTI is not the member of the ICC, the electronic and electrical goods cannot use the ICC standards.

BDST/ 1745, June 26, 2010
JIL/NS/EH/MUA