Consumer protection law
Sunday, 6 January 2008
THE Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) held a roundtable discussion recently. It was participated by speakers from the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and others. The subject matter of the discussion was the draft form of a comprehensive law for consumer protection in the country. It was prepared in draft form a long way back in 1992. Now, we are in the year 2006 which means that 14 years have passed away and still this proposed legislation which could be so helpful in protecting the consumers in Bangladesh, is yet to be made into law for application. This very disquieting lack of progress of it was the main concern of the speakers at the roundtable and they drew attention to the need for its fastest adoption in the backdrop of worsening sufferings of consumers in the county.
Government after government has been stalling with the draft form of the law - sending it from one ministry to another for scrutiny and endorsement. This process has been exhausted at least twice and the draft was approved in the cabinet meetings of two governments. But again it was sent for reconsideration and the process is still going on. Obviously, the vested interests are involved since they know it well that once this comprehensive legislation acquires the force of law, they will be put at a disadvantage for the first time and lose their capacities to treat the consumers as they like -- which is the reality now-- due to the existence of a legal vacuum.
The present reconstituted caretaker government has been doing commendable works that have inspired the people such as taking prompt decision to achieve independence of the judiciary. With similar speed and decisiveness, can it not take steps to adopt and enforce the consumer protection law immediately ?
Masud Mahmood
Dhanmondi
Dhaka
Government after government has been stalling with the draft form of the law - sending it from one ministry to another for scrutiny and endorsement. This process has been exhausted at least twice and the draft was approved in the cabinet meetings of two governments. But again it was sent for reconsideration and the process is still going on. Obviously, the vested interests are involved since they know it well that once this comprehensive legislation acquires the force of law, they will be put at a disadvantage for the first time and lose their capacities to treat the consumers as they like -- which is the reality now-- due to the existence of a legal vacuum.
The present reconstituted caretaker government has been doing commendable works that have inspired the people such as taking prompt decision to achieve independence of the judiciary. With similar speed and decisiveness, can it not take steps to adopt and enforce the consumer protection law immediately ?
Masud Mahmood
Dhanmondi
Dhaka