Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Tuesday demanded immediate legal action against the companies that raised bottled water prices illogically by 33 per cent in recent months.
It also put forward four-point demands to ensure safe water at affordable prices at a human chain in front of the National Press Club, organised by the CAB protesting the 'tectonic hike' in bottled water prices by the leading companies.
CAB Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, Director General of Bangladesh Olympic Association and President of CAB Dhaka District Committee Brig Gen (Retd) M Shams A Khan and Convener of Bangladesh Civil Society (Nagorik Somaj) Mohiuddin Ahmed spoke at the event among others.
Most of the leading bottlers have raised the price by Tk 5.0 or 33.33 per cent to Tk 20 per 500ml bottle last year while the 1.0-5.0 litre bottles by 25 per cent, according to the CAB.
CAB demanded immediate cancellation of this unreasonable and unfair price hike of all types of bottled water and emphasised on ensuring safe water supply at affordable cost for the consumers.
The association demanded immediate action to be taken by the Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) and the Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection (DNCRP).
It also demanded legal action as well as capital punishment for businesses that battered the consumers by unjustifiably increasing the prices of bottled water.
The CAB's demand came just after the BCC termed the price hike illogical a few days back.
The BCC also asked its officials concerned to take immediate action against any wrongdoings, and requested the DNCRP to do their part.
A report published in the Financial Express on September 03 said a BCC team conducted a drive on August 20 and found leading companies including Partex Group, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Co, City Group, TK Group and Meghna Group all raised the prices of their 500ml water bottle by Tk 5.0 each.
The BCC sent a letter, issued by its member Sowdagar Mustafizur Rahman, in this regard on August 21 to the DNCRP and other BCC officials.
The commission's drive found the wholesale price of a half-litre bottled water was Tk 11-12, but the retail price was increased to Tk 20.
The BCC remarked that the difference of Tk 8.0-9.0 per bottle between the wholesale and retail prices is illogical and unnatural.
The BCC chairperson also told the FE that they will take necessary action if it finds the companies concerned guilty of wrongdoings.
DNCRP Director General AHM Shafiquzzaman told the FE that the 33.33 per cent hike in the price is an unethical, illogical and irresponsible act. "We've been working on it … the consumers will get results soon."
According to the beverage houses, companies supply 63 million litres of bottled water per month across the country. The sector has been showing a 10-12 per cent growth year-on-year.
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