Editorial
Sorry state of BSTI standard
Who will guard the guards themselves?
There cannot be another worse situation than one where those that are entrusted to ensure the quality of products that are marketed in our country have questionable standards themselves. Yet that is what the situation that is obtaining in the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) as reported in a major Bangla Daily.
As it is, the consumers in Bangladesh are having the worst of both the worlds. They have to pay prices higher than what it should be for a particular commodity without ever being sure that they getting a quality product. The BSTI is the only institute set up to ensure the correct standard of the merchandise. And it has the authority to penalise the errant parties. What a shame that the institute is itself compromised by internal mismanagement and purchase of testing equipment which are old and faulty.
It is a pity too that those in the BSTI who have compromised their own standard because of the malpractices they have indulged in, do not realise the grave implications of their acts. For example if rods for construction are certified wrongly, which is the most likely outcome from a faulty machine, the long term consequences can be well imagined. Likewise, we are told that BSTI's physical testing lab not only compromises on the standard of products like electric meter and bulbs and cement etc, but also that nothing gets passed without appropriate palms of those manning the lab being greased.
It is a comforting fact that the relevant agencies are investigating the institute's cases of irregularities and corruption. The inquiry must identify the culprits who ought to be given exemplary punishment. We must appreciate its director general's very candid acknowledgment of the fact that things in his establishment are much worse than reported. And if there are more lacunae than what meet the eye, these must also be pinpointed and addressed immediately. BSTI is supposed to be the guardian of the interest of the millions of consumers in this country but Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? (Who will guard the guards themselves?) We can hardly put up with a situation where the premiere institute that validates the standard of products that we consume is itself unworthy of our trust.
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