Bangladesh Updates Rules of Business to Legalize Halal Certification

The Cabinet Division has officially issued a gazette notification amending the long-standing Rules of Business, 1996, in a move that significantly reorganizes administrative responsibilities within the government. According to the newly implemented amendment, the critical task of determining halal product standards and issuing corresponding halal certificates has now been formally brought under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Beyond merely shifting departmental responsibilities, this administrative revision provides a much-needed and robust legal foundation for halal certification processes in the country. Previously, the legal and institutional standing of these activities lacked the explicit framework that this newly issued cabinet notification now establishes, ensuring that the oversight of halal products is firmly anchored in official government rules.

The execution of these duties is not entirely new to the administrative apparatus, as the Islamic Foundation has historically shouldered the practical workload of halal standard determination and certification. Operating under the administrative umbrella of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Islamic Foundation has been performing these essential functions for a long duration of time.

With the formalization of the Rules of Business amendment, the longstanding operational role of the Islamic Foundation now enjoys explicit legal backing and administrative alignment. This ensures that the Ministry of Religious Affairs and its subordinate body can continue their certification work with enhanced official authority and regulatory clarity under the updated governmental framework in Dhaka.