Sylhet Bureau 

Md. Saiful Islam, Chairman of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), has said that there are many stakeholders involved in improving the investment climate, and a collaborative effort is needed to build a conducive environment for investment. BSCIC will continue its role in this joint effort.

He made the remarks on Wednesday  while addressing a seminar on "Environmental Pollution and Remedies in Raw Material Use or Waste Disposal from Light Engineering Industries in Sylhet District." The event was organized by the BSCIC district office in collaboration with the Department of Skills Development and Technology at a city hotel.

In response to a question from local entrepreneurs, the BSCIC chairman said that promoting products through fairs is not solely dependent on BSCIC. Stakeholders within BSCIC can also take independent initiatives for promotion. He stressed that BSCIC remains committed to supporting the promotion and marketing of products by entrepreneurs through necessary initiatives and arrangements.

The seminar was presided over by M. Suhel Hawlader, Deputy General Manager of the BSCIC District Office. Special guests included Md. Shahiduzzaman, Director (Skills and Technology) of the Department of Skills Development and Technology; Alimul Ehsan Chowdhury, President of NASIB Sylhet; and Professor Abdul Hamid of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology. The keynote presentation was delivered by Professor Salatul Islam Majumdar of the same university.

Addressing the issue of entrepreneur dropout, the BSCIC chairman mentioned that the corporation has a research cell dedicated to studying the matter. He noted that a dropout rate of 20 to 25 percent is considered normal due to reasons such as shifting business interests or migration abroad. However, he emphasized that BSCIC should strive to retain those who have received training and become involved in the process, even if the effort is not entirely successful.

He further stated that if there is a demand for a new industrial zone in Sylhet, initiatives will be taken based on the opinions of the local people and public representatives. He also mentioned that BSCIC will cancel illegal plot allocations and expedite the settlement of related legal cases. Immediate action will be taken against those who, after acquiring plots, have neither established industries nor intend to, but instead aim to transfer ownership after five or ten years.

On the issue of pollution, the BSCIC chairman asserted that it must be brought under control. He warned that if industrial waste mixes with water and soil and enters the food chain, it will threaten the survival of future generations. “No one has the right to consume all the resources the Earth has to offer,” he said. He also urged careful attention to preserving ecological balance and emphasized the need for recycling and reuse of industrial waste to protect future generations.