“Proliferation of adulterated and low-quality products in the market and exorbitant price hikes of daily necessities have made life difficult for the common man. In many cases, some unscrupulous traders are creating artificial crisis through hoarding and manipulation to make consumers suffer.’
Speakers said this at the rally and protest meeting organized by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on the occasion of the World Consumer Rights Day in front of the National Press Club in the capital. This year the theme of World Consumer Rights Day is ‘Ensure Safe Products, Build Consumer Confidence’. Taking strict measures against adulterated, counterfeit and unsafe products; CAB raised several demands, including legal action against unreasonable price hike and hoarding.
Speakers said some unscrupulous traders are controlling the market through syndicates using government party signboards. If the government closes this opportunity to them, the syndicate will largely collapse.
It is known that on March 15, 1962, the then US President John F. Kennedy made a historic declaration to the US Congress about the fundamental rights of consumers. The day has been celebrated worldwide since 1983 to commemorate that event. Since then, the civil organization CAB has been celebrating the day in Bangladesh as well.
CAB president AHM Safikuzzaman said on the occasion that although the day is celebrated worldwide, it is unfortunate that it is not celebrated nationally in Bangladesh. He alleged that due to syndicates in the market, the prices of daily commodities are increasing unreasonably. Calling on the government, he said that the syndicate should be broken quickly and bring relief to the market.
CAB General Secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said that their organization has been agitating for a long time to establish consumer rights. He urged the government to take effective initiatives to control the market of daily commodities.
Cab Dhaka district president Brigadier General Samch A Khan (retd) said that the government should break the syndicate and take effective measures to keep the market stable.
Cab treasurer. Md. Munjur-e-Khoda Tarafdar said that the government should take quick and effective steps to protect consumer rights and establish a fair market system.
Cab organizing secretary Professor Dr. Syed Mizanur Rahman Raju said that World Consumer Rights Day is not being celebrated officially in the country, which is sad. Without national recognition of consumer rights, it will be difficult to implement them.
The demands made by Cab
In the program, some demands are highlighted by the cab to protect the interests of the consumers. The demands include strict action against adulterated, fake and unsafe products; Legal action against price gouging and hoarding; clearly stating the exact price, production and expiration date of the product; stop false advertising and misleading information; strengthen market surveillance; To modernize and enforce the Consumer-Rights Protection Act, 2009 and ensure the safety of products sold online and in e-commerce.
