'World Accreditation Day 2024' and 'International Archives Day 2024' will be observed in the country like elsewhere in the world on Sunday.
This year, the theme of the day is "Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future", said a handout from the Press Information Department (PID) on Saturday, reports BSS.
On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages wishing success of the day.
In his message, President Mohammed Shahabuddin said, “I welcome the initiative of Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) to observe the ‘World Accreditation Day 2024’ in a befitting manner as elsewhere in the world.”
Noting that accreditation is a recognised and neutral system of evaluation that can act as a foundation in measuring the activities and quality of various organizations of a country, he said accreditation helps in strengthening the economy and expanding trade along with simplifying the roles of business and regulatory authority.
The importance of accreditation is immense in removing technical barriers from world trade system, the head of the state said.
He said world economy is constantly changing due to technological advancement.
Accreditation has no alternative to increasing consumer satisfaction in a changing situation and boosting producer-consumer relations to ensure robust international trade, Shahabuddin added.
Since its inception, BAB has rendered accreditation services to various laboratories, certifying organizations, inspection and training institutes which in turn helps country’s economic development, he said.
The president hoped BAB would perform following the international standard and would play a pivotal role in expanding the country’s trade.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said: “I am happy to know that ‘World Accreditation Day 2024’ is being celebrated in Bangladesh like other countries of the world.”
The premier greeted all stakeholders of Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) and the country’s development partners.
“This year’s theme of the day is ‘Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and shaping the Future’ appears to me as time befitting and complementary in building Smart Bangladesh-2041,” she added.
The use of integrated technologies in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is rapidly transforming the way of living, work and interaction, she said.
Its impact on overall production, management, and good governance is wide, deep and far-reaching, she added.
The use of artificial intelligence and robotic technology across the world has brought about massive technological changes in manufacturing, said Sheikh Hasina.
“As a result, new possibilities are created on one hand and global challenges are on the other,” she added.
The premier stressed working together with mutual partnership to harness the technological advantages of the fourth industrial revolution to enrich the country economically, increase sector-wise productivity and excel in the services and products produced.
She said BAB can play an important role in meeting these challenges by ensuring the quality of domestic products and services at all stages of the supply chain, creating technical field-based skilled manpower, helping to remove technical trade barriers and developing national quality infrastructure.
Sheikh Hasina said BAB has already awarded accreditation certificates to 141 public, private and multinational Conformity Assessment Bodies (laboratories, medical/diagnostic laboratories, certification bodies and inspection bodies) as per international standards and guidelines under existing accreditation schemes.
“The Awami League government is working relentlessly for the effective development of the industrial sector across the country. As a result, Bangladesh has been ranked among the fastest-growing economies in the world in the last decade,” she said.
She said the government has integrated the SDG targets in the Eighth Five Year Plan to achieve the United Nations “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” by 2030.
Multifaceted initiatives have been taken to promote sustainable industrialization and trade and investment, she said, adding that besides, the government is working towards building a developed and prosperous Bangladesh by 2041 by creating an inclusive digital society by involving the backward and marginalized communities in the mainstream of development.
She hoped the BAB would play an important role in building SMART Bangladesh-2041.
Both the President and the Premier wished all successes of the programmes taken in connection with the observance of the World Accreditation Day-2024.
The International Archives Day 2024
On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages wishing success of the day.
In his message, President Mohammed Shahabuddin said: "I am happy to know that the International Archives Day is being celebrated in Bangladesh like in other countries of the world with the initiative of the Department of Archives and Library.”
He greeted the users of archives, researchers and the officials and employees of the Department of Archives and Library.
The old documents kept in the National Archives are invaluable and acceptable documents for all including journalists, intellectuals, teachers and researchers from home and abroad in practising history, the head of the state said.
The historical value of the documents held in the National Archives is also high in terms of reference and source of objective information, he added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said: "The International Archives Organization (The International Council on Archives) at its annual general meeting in 2007 decided to observe ‘June 9’ as the 'International Archives Day' because on this day in 1948, the organization was founded.”
“I am very happy to know that Bangladesh National Archives as a member of The International Council on Archives is celebrating 'International Archives Day' in Bangladesh like other countries of the world,” the premier added.
She said that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman considered the preservation of Bengali's heroic history, proud heritage and contemporary culture.
In that context, Bangabandhu established all important institutions for the management of the state structure side by side establishing 'Bangladesh National Archives', the central archive of history, heritage and culture in 1972, she said.
In 1974, the Father of the Nation donated two acres of land for the National Archives in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city and took all initiatives to construct a permanent building for the institution under the First Five Year Plan, she said.
After the brutal killing of the father of the nation and most of his family members, the undemocratic governments of this country did not take any initiative to advance this institution, she said.
“Rather they distorted our proud history and wanted to erase the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from this country,” Sheikh Hasina added.
“After forming the government in 1996, we presented the true history of our great liberation war before the nation,” she said.
On June 14, 2001, the foundation stone of the National Archives Building was laid, she said, adding that in the last fifteen and a half years, the Awami League (AL)-led government has taken several initiatives to improve the infrastructure and services of the National Archives.
“We have started the process of digitization of traditional/old documents. As a result, all including our researchers, writers, litterateurs, professionals, students, cultural workers, employees of the People's Republic and policymakers are benefiting in many ways,” she said.
She said that the documents, created today, will be considered historical documents and valuable archival materials of tomorrow.
The premier said that archives and archivists play a very important role in maintaining social responsibility, transparency, the practice of democracy and the preservation of history and heritage.
“I hope our archivists will devote themselves to making Bangladesh National Archives a more prosperous archive by applying their innovative abilities and skills,” she said.
Both the President and the Premier wished all successes of the programmes taken in connection with the observance of the International Archives Day-2024.
