The Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) is yet to start functioning in full swing due to 'undue' delay in preparing its organogram and necessary rules, officials said. Â
Though the government has appointed Md Iqbal Khan Chowdhury as the chairman of the commission, the process of appointment of members has not been finalised yet, making an unwanted delay in its functions and depriving the consumers of their rights.Â
Mr Chowdhury said they have been facing shortage of manpower and fund-constraints to run the commission smoothly.Â
He, however, said they have started the process of making organogram and rules of the commission. Â
The government appointed the chairman of the commission in April and two other officials in May. Â But they face lack of logistics supports to run the commission smoothly. Â
The commission has received only Tk 1.1 million from the government as office maintenance cost.Â
The government enacted Competition Act in 2012 in order to ensure a fair marketing system and create a competitive and healthy business environment for the traders. Besides, it will protect the consumers' rights.
To implement the Competition Act/law, the government formed the Competition Commission. But the commission is yet to start functioning fully even four years after its formation.Â
A handful of unscrupulous businessmen artificially increase the prices of essential commodities for their petty interests as the commission is yet to start functioning in full swing.
A section of unscrupulous traders often deprive consumers of real prices of their commodities as the BCC is yet to start its functions, according to consumers rights groups.
"We have started the process of preparing the organogram for manpower recruitment of the commission. It will take some time to complete the task," Mr Chowdhury told the FE.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) is expecting to complete the appointment process of the commission members by July 2016. Â Â
Asked when the commission will go for full functioning, senior secretary of the MoC Hedayetullah Al Mamoon said, "We have taken initiatives to complete the recruitment process of the members of the commission by July. We hope the commission will go for full operation from August."
BCC is designed to prohibit anti-competitive activities and market syndication for ensuring a healthy business environment and consumer benefits.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com