Anomalies found everywhere

Irregularities remain everywhere as such misdeeds are being unearthed wherever there is any intervention, said AHM Shafiquzzaman, director general of the Directorate of the National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP).

“But, the biggest weakness of the DNCRP is the lack of proper data and information. We do not have any legal data source. We are also unable to scrutinise available information received from the consumers and personal sources,” he said.

He was addressing a seminar titled “The Consumer Rights Protection Act-2009 in participation with the economic reporters,” organised jointly by the DNCRP and the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) on Thursday at the ERF auditorium, according to a statement.

He also informed that the DNCRP has decided to work jointly with the intelligence and law enforcement agencies to protect the consumers’ rights.

Citing various examples of consumer rights violation, Shafiquzzaman said the representatives of pharmaceutical companies usually throng in front of doctors’ chambers to manipulate doctors to prescribe medications of their respective pharmaceutical companies.

They also take snaps of the prescriptions which is similar to violation of patients’ privacy, he added.

The director general also alleged that the English medium students are being forced to provide advance tuition fees during admission, and are also compelled to buy books, notebooks, pens and school dresses at higher prices.

He said, “Even the tourists are not also spared at the tourist spots, like sea beaches. A section of people often argue with them for taking photos, riding bikes, and horses at a higher price.”   

“The commoners are also not getting their due utility services from entities like WASA, DESA and TITAS Gas Company Ltd as there is often low pressure of gas, poor quality of water and load shedding,” he continued.

“In a nutshell, wherever we’re intervening, we’re getting elements of certain level of irregularities,” he said, hinting at conducting drives regarding the services of WASA, DESA and TITAS.

Talking about the recent edible oil crisis, he said there should not be any crisis of edible oil according to the official data.

“But, despite this, there has been a crisis as the manufacturers have lowered their production. The traders are also holding supply orders, resulting in a monopoly in the market. However, we have little to do in such cases. There is also an apprehension of a much bigger crisis than the recent crisis created by the suspension of production by one or two big companies. The government wants to remain intact in the supply chain of goods,” Shafiquzzaman added.

Director (admin and finance) Monjur Mohammad Shahriar stressed the need for strengthening the Consumer Rights Protection Act to make the development spree sustainable.

Shahriar also sought cooperation from the media for protecting the rights of the consumers.

AFP Bureau Chief and ERF vice-president Shafiqul Alam said that the nature of businesses is being changed with the economic advancement of the country.

“On the other part, the purchasing power of the consumers has increased. So, there is a need to amend the Consumer Rights Protection Act. The punishment for violating the law should be tougher,” he added.

He also suggested increasing the research and intelligence operations of the Directorate.

Traders find penalty unfair

Meanwhile on the same day, Karwan Bazar Kitchen Market Owners’ Association has claimed that the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) “goes beyond the laws” to punish the traders.

Babul Mia, president of the association, made the allegation on Thursday during a view-exchange meeting held to discuss product import, supply, and price, and stockpiling of essential commodities.

He claimed that shops are being fined unfairly without any prior warning.

“It was seen that upon receiving a complaint, a shop with an investment worth Tk2 lakh was being fined for Tk1 lakh without any prior warning,” Babul lamented adding, “they randomly impose penalty without talking to the owners or giving them warning.”

Meanwhile, the association's General Secretary Shafiqul Islam Lokman called for cooperation instead of harassment of the traders.

“Such penalty will not help. Rather, it may provoke a negative reaction among the traders,” he remarked.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) organised the event at the office of Islamia Peace Society in Kawran Bazar.