Staff Correspondent

Parliament yesterday passed a bill aimed at forming Bangladesh Reference Institute for Chemical Measurements to provide chemical metrology service across the country.

There will be no need to go abroad for chemical tests after setting up the institute. Rather any other country will be able to test chemicals from Bangladesh.

Science and Technology Affairs Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman placed the Bill titled “The Bangladesh Reference Institute for Chemical Measurements (BRICM)”, passed by voice vote.

According to the bill, the institute will facilitate the Designated Reference Institute for Chemical Measurements to smoothly conduct tests of its chemical activities by maintaining the ISO standards.

For chemical measurement, DRiCM was introduced on June 10, 2012 under the Bangladesh Science and Industry Research Council.

With the new law, this old institute will go under the jurisdiction of the Science and Technology Ministry.

Meanwhile, “Bangladesh Engineering Research Council Bill 2020” was passed at Jatiya Sangsad yesterday, which was placed by Yeafesh Osman.

According to the proposed legislature, a 10-member governing body, headed by a chairman, will run the research council. The chairman will also be the chief executive officer.

Besides, there will be a 45-member advisory body, headed by the science and technology minister, for the research council. There will also be a six-member expert panel where internationally reputed Bangladeshis or expatriate Bangladeshi scientists, engineers, professionals, industrial entrepreneurs or educationists will be incorporated.

The JS also passed “Gazipur Unnayan Kartripakkha Bill 2020” amid harsh protest by the opposition lawmakers, concerning mismanagement among other development agencies including the city corporation with the newly formed authority.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed placed the bill.