The non-existence of a digital scale prescribed by the government to weigh gold has given rise to jewellers using various types of weighing machines allegedly pilfering gold weights and misleading customers.

There are no specific guidelines as to what type of digital scale should be used to weigh gold. Those in the trade also lack technology to check khad (alloy) in the ornament.

The internationally recognised level of khad is 1.08 milligrams (mg) in 11.66 grams of gold, which allegedly is not maintained and the authorities have turned a blind eye to the matter.

Many female customers said that the weight of the same gold ornament varies from shop to shop. They said a gold ornament is costly and a sensitive issue too, not only in price but also in terms of social and cultural wealth.

“I bought a pair of ear-rings that weighed eight grams from a shop at Iqbal Centre in Banani.. When I checked it in another shop the weight was only 7.76 grams,” said Sharmila, a homemaker, adding: “When we lose money we do not mind, but when we lose a simple gold ornament, we get upset.”

A visit to different gold shops showed that digital scales of at least 30 different companies are used, imported mostly from Switzerland, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and China.

Gold jewellers admitted that the difference in gold weights in different shops is at a 'minimum'.

“The internationally acknowl-

edged difference is between 2 to 2 ½ mg which cannot be detected by the naked eye. If the difference is above the international level, it then causes an unpleasant and acceptable situation,” said MA Wadud Khan, president, Bangladesh Jewellers Samity (BJS) and owner of Chandrima Jewellers.

He also said that the weight of gold in the hallmark should not be different when physically weighed. “If it differs there must

be problem, which is a crime,” Wadud said.

Although BSTI (Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute) 'check' the digital weighing machines used in gold shops and tags them as 'standard quality', the present drive against the malpractice in commodities led by magistrate Rokan Ud-Doullah found 'weight pilferage' in gold business.

The mobile courts fined a

number of gold shops for weight pilferage finding the shortage in weight between 30 to 40 mg than the actual.

Gold businessmen said that sometimes the difference might be created because of the airflow inside the scale and the fluctuation of electricity.

They also believe that same brand scale in the gold business would reduce the fear of 'wrong weights.'

There are about 1,000 gold shops owners of which 800 are members of the BJS who have invested more than Tk 1,000 crore in the gold showrooms in the capital.

The major gold showrooms are found n Baitul Mukarram, Chandni Chawk, Mouchack, New Market, Eastern Plaza, Paltan Super Market, Rajdhani Super Market, Navana shopping complex and Iqbal Centre.

The BJS leaders said that if the authorities prescribe any specific weighing scale, the confusion in gold measurements would be lessened.

“We will fully cooperate with the government's decision for any specific scale,” Wadud said. He also urged the government to import technology to check khad, which will improve the quality of gold ornaments available in the country.