Jewellers have expressed optimism over the export potential of locally manufactured gold bars to contribute more to the foreign exchange reserves.

The observation came from local gold businesses during view exchange meetings held in Barishal, Chandpur, Naogaon, Joypurhat, and Lakshmipur on Friday.

“Bangladesh is now moving towards industrialisation. We will export gold bars with Made in Bangladesh seal through promoting local industries of the precious yellow metal,” Masudur Rahman, vice-president of Bangladesh Jeweller’s Association (BAJUS), told a view exchange meeting in Barishal.

He said 40,000 gold traders from all over the country have come under one umbrella under the leadership of BAJUS President Sayem Sobhan Anvir. “He [Sayem Sobhan Anvir] is working to ensure that gold traders can conduct their business with dignity.”

BAJUS executive member Pabitra Chandra Ghosh and Barishal district unit General Secretary Nurul Amin were also present at the meeting chaired by the district unit president, Sheikh Mohammad Musa.

Addressing the programme, speakers said that business should be conducted with transparency while central leaders also gave instructions not to do business with stolen gold.

The leaders assured local businesses of all-out support in case of any harassment, saying gold traders of the country would stand by the victim.

In Chandpur, BAJUS Vice-President Reponul Hasan was the chief guest while the district unit president, Mohammad Mostafa Fulmia, presided over the meeting.

Addressing the programme, Reponul Hasan said BAJUS held dialogues with the commerce ministry and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) to support the gold-testing laboratory at local level.

“We want to work with honest traders irrespective of scale of business to protect the sector from cheating,” he said

BAJUS Assistant Secretary Imran Chowdhury, executive member Mazibar Rahman Khan, and the district unit general secretary, Manik Poddar, were also present on the occasion.

In Naogaon, BAJUS Vice-President Joynal Abedin Khokon was the chief guest while the district unit president, SM Rezaul Haque, chaired the meeting. BAJUS Assistant Secretary Uttom Ghosh, executive member Ali Hossain, and the district unit general secretary, Safiqul Islam Raju, were also present among other local leaders.

BDST: 1939 HRS, MAY 3, 2024
MN