NN ONLINE:
In a strategic bid to elevate Bangladesh’s role in the global halal economy, Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. AFM Khalid formally sought technical and institutional support from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to strengthen the country’s halal certification capabilities, a pivotal conduit to the $2.3 trillion global halal market.
Dr. Khalid made the appeal during a high-level meeting with OIC officials on Thursday at the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) Centre in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The visit signals Bangladesh’s aim to professionalize and standardize its halal ecosystem—from food and pharmaceuticals to cosmetics and logistics—ensuring international credibility.
“Bangladesh is committed to building a robust, globally recognized halal certification framework,” Dr. Khalid told OIC officials. “While we already receive valuable cooperation from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, we now seek structured OIC technical assistance to train our officials, harmonize standards, and scale capacity.”
The adviser also expressed Bangladesh’s support for the proposed establishment of a Halal Institute in Uganda under OIC guidance, a move that indicates Dhaka’s intent to take a leadership role in expanding halal infrastructure across the Muslim world.
Halal as an economic catalyst :Although often seen as a religious requirement, halal certification is increasingly viewed by policymakers as a driver of trade and export growth. With Muslim consumers demanding traceability and authenticity, Bangladesh—home to 170 million Muslims and a growing agro-processing sector—views halal certification as a non-tariff passport to markets in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
Dr. Khalid’s outreach comes as Bangladesh’s Islamic Foundation expands its certification operations. Industry insiders note the system still lacks international accreditation, digital traceability, and skilled manpower—gaps the OIC partnership aims to address.
Beyond certification: Scholarships, skills, and unity of the ummah
The adviser also thanked the OIC for awarding 100 scholarships to Bangladeshi students at Lahore University, a program he hopes to broaden to include madrasa graduates with deep grounding in the Quran and Hadith. “These students can become future halal auditors, bioethicists, and Sharia-compliant product developers bridging faith and industry in medicine, engineering, and technology,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr. Khalid linked economic collaboration to broader Islamic solidarity: “Our progress in science, AI, climate resilience, and poverty reduction depends on unity under the banner of the Ummah, as guided by the Quran and Hadith. Disunity is our greatest barrier to progress.”
Accompanying him were Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Md Iqbal Hossain Khan; Private Secretary Sadek Ahmed; and Counselor (Press) Mohammad Taiyeb Ali.
Industry observers suggest OIC involvement could accelerate Bangladesh’s halal infrastructure, potentially paving the way for mutual recognition agreements with major halal markets, new training academies, and even a national Halal Authority.
With global halal trade projected to reach $3 trillion by 2027, Bangladesh’s timely push could position it not just as a consumer, but as a certifier, exporter, and thought leader in the Islamic economy. As Dr. Khalid concluded: “This isn’t merely about labeling on food packets. It’s about sovereignty, standards, and strategic economic positioning.”
