To propel Bangladesh’s halal sector to new heights in the international market, experts have urged tackling the obstacles and seizing the chances that are currently available.
They asserted that in order to fully realize the potential of the halal market, it is imperative that Bangladesh establish a cohesive, knowledge-based, and scientifically supported halal ecosystem.
They also noted that a product needs to be pure, safe, and hygienic in addition to being allowed or authorized by religious standards. The development of the nation’s halal business has advanced significantly as a result of the Islamic Foundation’s and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution’s (BSTI) halal certification programs.
The speakers made these remarks at a focus group discussion titled “Development of Halal Industry in Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities” organized by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) held at its office in the capital today.
In his welcome address, DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury said that the halal industry is no longer just a religious concept; it has now become one of the fastest-growing and most promising sectors of the global economy.
He noted that the global halal market is worth around $3 trillion, while Bangladesh exports only about $850 million worth of halal products, most of which are agricultural. Due to the absence of an effective halal ecosystem and internationally recognized certification boards, this highly potential sector has not been able to achieve its desired growth.
Razeev H. Chowdhury further stated that the global halal market is projected to reach $9.45 trillion by 2034, yet Bangladesh is lagging behind because of structural and institutional weaknesses. “Lack of compliance with international standards, complexities in obtaining certificates, shortage of modern laboratories, and scarcity of skilled manpower are all hindering the development of a full-fledged halal ecosystem,” he added.
He underlined that the creation of an independent halal certification authority is now essential to transforming the halal sector into a new economic engine.
“The national-level stakeholder dialogue held in Dhaka on August 2 and the subsequent joint programs in Malaysia from August 12-15 have paved the way for realizing the dream of establishing a Halal Industrial Hub in Bangladesh,” said Dr. Mominul Islam, Assistant Professor at the Department of Marketing, IUBAT, who presented the keynote paper.
In order to guarantee collaboration between the Islamic Foundation, BSTI, academic institutions, and the industrial sector, he stated that over 300 institutions in the nation have already obtained halal certification. He also added that it is now imperative to establish a single national halal authority.
Incorporating halal education into the curricula of schools, colleges, and universities is also essential, he added.
Dr. Islam pointed out that countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore have integrated religious guidelines, scientific research, and national branding into policymaking to advance their halal sectors. “As a Muslim-majority nation, Bangladesh can also unlock the vast potentials through following a similar path,” he added.
He observed that Bangladesh is yet to develop a “Halal Country Branding.” To this end, the speakers suggested organizing large-scale international halal expos and implementing public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
Concluding the discussion, participants expressed optimism that through joint efforts, ethical commitment, and the use of modern technology, Bangladesh will one day secure a strong position in the global halal market by bringing not only economic prosperity but also spiritual satisfaction.
The discussants included Md. Aminul Islam, Director General of the Bangladesh Accreditation Board; Md. Zahirul Islam, Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation; Md. Ariful Haque, Director General (Joint Secretary) of BIDA; Baby Rani Karmakar, Director General of EPB; S.M. Abu Sayeed, Deputy Director (Halal Certification) of BSTI; and Dr. Md. Abu Saleh Patowary, Deputy Director of the Islamic Foundation.
DCCI Vice President Md. Salim Solaiman, members of the Board of Directors, and representatives from both public and private sectors were also present.
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