Leaders of the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) said the lost heritage of the country's jewellery industry would be resorted by the association president Sayem Sobhan Anvir.

They made the remarks at a view exchange meeting organised by Barishal unit of BAJUS at BDS auditorium in the district town on Saturday.

Jewellery products carrying made in Bangladesh logo will surpass RMG items in terms of export earnings, the leaders hoped.

They also said the gold traders will have to buy gold bars from certified dealers in future.

Dr Dilip Kumar Roy, former BAJUS president and chairman of District Monitoring Standing Committee, said gold business in Bangladesh was at a low ebb but Bashundhara Group’s Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir helmed BAJUS to revamp the sector.

Addressing the event, Dr Roy thanked Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group and said, today under the leadership of Sayem Sobhan Anvir we have got legitimacy, and our capital is safe.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has met a longstanding demand for gold policy which will be conducive for restoration of the lost heritage.

The traders concerned will have to procure gold bars from the certified dealers and sell products at a similar price.

About VAT, he said the commerce minister has requested NBR to reduce Value Added Tax from 5 percent to 2 percent on the gold traders.

He underscored the need for bringing all gold traders under the umbrella of BAJUS which will take responsibility of only its members.

The gold traders will be able to get cost-free membership within two months; he said adding that district committees will take three months to be formed.

Referring to the recently-held expo at ICCB in Dhaka, he said such a fair was not possible without the initiative of Sayem Sobhan Anvir. Bangladesh Jewellery Expo-2022 earned acclaim at home and abroad, he also said. 

A conference of the gold traders will be held in Dhaka at the yearend to streamline the sector, he added.

Md Joynal Abedin Khokon, member secretary of District Monitoring Standing Committee, Pabitra Chandra Ghosh, member of the committee, Md Ripnul Hasan, member secretary of Standing Committee on Law and Membership and BAJUS Barishal unit vice-president Sheikh Mohammad Musa spoke on the occasion.

BAJUS district committee’s vice-president Nurul Amin and general secretary Md Ali Khan Jashim moderated the programme.

Around 100 gold traders from across Barishal municipality and 10 upazilas were present in the event.

BDST: 1914 HRS, MAY 14, 2022
MSK