Competition commission struggles due to manpower shortage

Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) is yet to be fully functional due to lack of adequate manpower, thus failing to ensure consumers' rights as well as forging healthy competition among the businesses in the country.
Its organogram, recently submitted to the ministry of finance (MoF), was waiting for necessary approval while a proposal to the ministry of commerce for appointing required manpower is yet to get approval, officials said.
They said the delay has been affecting the full functioning of the commission.
At present, only 11 officials including chairman and two members are looking after the activities of the commission.
"We have prepared the organogram which is now waiting for getting approval from the ministry of finance (MoF)," BCC secretary Rashid Ahmed told the FE.
He said the BCC was expecting the organogram to get approval soon. It would then have to be approved by the secretaries committee before issuing a gazette notification in this regard.
The BCC also lacks adequate manpower and logistics supports, which incapacitated it to implement its agenda.
"We have submitted the appointment guidelines to the ministry of commerce for approval," the official said, adding that the BCC right now requires manpower against 73 posts.
Meanwhile, the consumers were being deprived of their rights due to delay in full functioning of the BCC.
A leader of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) suggested the BCC to function fully for safeguarding the rights of consumers and the traders.
The government in 2012 enacted the competition law to ensure a fair marketing system and create a competitive and healthy business environment for the traders as well as to protect the consumers' rights. It also formed the BCC to implement the law.
A handful of unscrupulous businessmen allegedly increase the prices of essential commodities artificially for their petty interests as the commission is yet to be fully functional in nearly five years of its inception.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com