The country's existing consumer rights laws need to be strengthened to protect the interests of common people as irregularities persist everywhere, said speakers at a seminar on Thursday.
They made the comment while speaking at a seminar on 'Consumer Rights Protection Act-2009', jointly organised by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at the ERF office in the city, said a press release.
AHM Safiquzzaman, director general of the consumer rights protection directorate, said, "We found irregularities in almost every sector where we conducted drives."
According to the information, there should not be any crisis for edible oil.
"But there was a crisis. Companies reduced production. Traders held supply orders. In a word, this market has become a kind of monopoly…," said Mr Safiquzzaman.
Despite knowing all this, there is nothing to do, he said.
"Because if one or two big companies stop production, there is a chance for a severe crisis…," he said.
However, the government wants to keep the supply chain of essentials smooth and sound, he said.
Apart from food products, people are also not getting proper services from the entities like WASA, DESA and Titas.
"Water quality is not good, gas pressure is low while load shedding exists in many places. A plane is not leaving on time," Mr Safiquzzaman said, while sharing his experiences.
"In a word, wherever I move my hand, I find irregularities," he vented his frustration.
He also hinted that the Directorate would also begin drives to monitor the services of WASA, DESA, DESCO, Titas and other utility providers.
"But our great limitation is that we do not have a valid source of information; little option to verify the accuracy of information obtained from consumer or personal sources," he said.
Because of such limitations, Mr Safiquzzaman said they had decided to work with intelligence and law enforcement agencies in a coordinated way.
Being deceived by the unscrupulous traders for decades, consumers themselves have lost consciousness of their own rights, he observed.
Speaking on the occasion, Manzoor Mohammad Shahriar, director of the consumer rights protection directorate, said consumer rights laws needed to be strengthened to help their organisation take actions properly.
The Directorate needs to be strengthened, with recruiting adequate manpower and ensuring required support, he said.
If the directorate can function properly, no wrongdoers will go unpunished, he said.
Mr Shahriar also sought cooperation of the media in protecting consumer rights.
Shafiqul Alam, AFP's bureau chief and vice president of the ERF, said the country's economic growth was changing the business pattern.
The Consumer Rights Act needs to be amended in line with the changes, he said, adding that exemplary punishment should be ensured in the event of breaking the law.
He also recommended increasing research and intelligence of the Directorate.
ERF President Sharmin Rinvi presided over the seminar, while Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Adviser Kazi Abdul Hannan spoke, among others.
ERF General Secretary SM Rashidul Islam moderated the programme and Rajabi Nahar Rajni presented a paper on the activities and laws of the Directorate.
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