The institute, which was set up to enhance the trade negotiation capacity of both public and private sector professionals, has so far conducted only four training programmes. And it is yet to start any research works.

The first two training programmes were arranged for Bangladeshi diplomats working abroad and leading exporters. The other two programmes focused on WTO-related issues attended by researchers and government officials.

The institute is currently run by an acting chief executive officer and three employees-- documentation officer, junior administrative officer and a computer operator. As per the institute's memorandum of articles, there should be at least 28 staff for running the BFTI.

"We are working without any vision as there is no full time chief of the institute," said an official of the BFTI.

According to the official, the institute is also facing fund crisis, as the government is yet to release Tk 2 crore it (government) pledged earlier for running the BFTI.

Some leading chambers have also made monetary contributions to the institute.

The World Bank financed to set up the institute at the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) building in Dhaka.

Sources said some development partners have expressed desire to provide funds to the institute on fulfilling some of their conditions, which include reducing of the government authority to run the BFTI.

One of the development partners is willing to provide huge funds but it wants to see a foreigner as the institute's chief executive officer, sources said. When contacted Commerce Secretary Aminur Rahman, who is one of the vice-presidents of the board of governors, said he knows nothing about the offer, as he is yet to attend any board meeting after he joined the Ministry of Commerce some one and a half months ago back.

The BFTI is a public-private partnership organisation run by a 15-member governing body comprising equal number of representatives from government and private organisations.

Commerce minister is the chief of the board of the institute. Other members are commerce secretary, president of FBCCI, rector of Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC), secretary of Economic Relations Division, principal of Foreign Service Academy, executive director of Board of Investment, vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau, presidents of ICC, Bangladesh, MCCI, DCCI, CCCI, BGMEA, BTMA and CEO of BFTI.