Bangladesh ships $850m worth of halal products annually: DCCI

Bangladesh exports around $850 million worth of halal products each year, most of which come from agriculture-based goods, said Razeev H Chowdhury, senior vice-president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

He shared the information at an event organised by the DCCI in Dhaka today.

In addition to Muslim consumers, many non-Muslim countries are now showing growing interest in halal products due to their quality and hygienic production processes, Chowdhury said.

Given the current pace of expansion in the global halal market, Bangladesh has a significant opportunity to tap into this sector, he added.

"As the fourth-largest Muslim-majority country in the world, and with abundant agricultural, livestock, and fisheries resources, Bangladesh holds strong potential," he said.

However, he expressed disappointment that most halal products worldwide are currently produced in non-Muslim countries.

"As a Muslim-majority nation, this is concerning for us. Bangladesh's readymade garment sector has already demonstrated our capabilities on the global stage. Now, it is time to develop the halal industry as a new driver of our economy," he added.

Chowdhury said the halal industry is no longer confined to religious or dietary practices but has become a fast-growing global economic sector valued at nearly $3 trillion.

It is expected to reach $9.45 trillion by 2034, he noted.

Despite this vast potential, Bangladesh faces several structural and institutional challenges in developing the halal industry, including low awareness of halal standards, a lack of modern laboratories and technology, and a shortage of skilled manpower.

He suggested implementing an automated certification system, establishing advanced laboratory facilities, and strengthening traceability and logistics support to overcome these barriers.

Chowdhury also emphasised the need to form a Halal Certification Board comprising members from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and the Islamic Foundation to ensure global recognition of local certificates.

Additionally, he said Bangladesh must strictly follow the guidelines of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries and take strong diplomatic and commercial initiatives to promote its halal products internationally.

Md Abul Kalam Azad, assistant manager (export) of Paragon Group; Sadiq M Alam, managing director of Metamorphosis; and AGM Sayadul Haq Bhuiyan, head of supply chain and export at Bengal Meat, were also present at the event.