Govt readying ordinance to protect consumers' interest
Friday, 9 November 2007
FE Report
The draft consumers' protection ordinance is expected to be approved by the Council of Advisers of the caretaker government Sunday next, official sources said.
The much-awaited ordinance will be effective only after its promulgation by the President.
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will preside over the council meeting.
After the promulgation of the ordinance, the consumers will be able to lodge complaints with the proper authorities against the businessmen and service providers for any violation of consumers' right, commerce ministry sources said.
Earlier, moves for enactment of law on consumers' right by the previous governments were thwarted by vested quarters.
The commerce ministry prepared the draft law earlier with the help of different stakeholders including Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), finance ministry, home ministry, law ministry and Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in the middle of this year.
Later, the law ministry vetted the draft ordinance, the sources said.
The sources added the draft copy of the law titled "Consumers' Protection Ordinance, 2007" has been formulated under the guidance of experts after studying such laws in India, Pakistan and some other countries.
BDR sources said that the draft ordinance also recommended setting up of a directorate, which will ensure welfare of the consumers.
If any consumer is cheated by businessman or institution, the victims will have the right to make complaints to the director general of the directorate in black and white, the draft copy said.
The proposed directorate will be headed by the commerce minister as chairman, the draft suggested.
"In the draft copy of the ordinance, the definitions of syndicate, hoarding and power of the director general of the directorate have been outlined," said a senior BDR official while talking to the FE Thursday.
The Council of Advisers at its meeting Sunday might also approve the proposed amendment to the existing "Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969".
Besides, the council will also discuss the progress of the police service improvement programme and the suit filed by M/S Tulip Computers of the Netherlands against the Bangladesh government.
The Dutch computer accessories company filed a case against the government at a Dutch court for scraping their contract under which the company was to supply computers to educational institutions and train the teachers of Bangladesh.
The Dutch court in a judgement asked the Bangladesh government to repay Euro 4.2 million to the company as compensation.
The council might take a decision on the case at its meeting Sunday, sources said.
The draft consumers' protection ordinance is expected to be approved by the Council of Advisers of the caretaker government Sunday next, official sources said.
The much-awaited ordinance will be effective only after its promulgation by the President.
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will preside over the council meeting.
After the promulgation of the ordinance, the consumers will be able to lodge complaints with the proper authorities against the businessmen and service providers for any violation of consumers' right, commerce ministry sources said.
Earlier, moves for enactment of law on consumers' right by the previous governments were thwarted by vested quarters.
The commerce ministry prepared the draft law earlier with the help of different stakeholders including Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), finance ministry, home ministry, law ministry and Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in the middle of this year.
Later, the law ministry vetted the draft ordinance, the sources said.
The sources added the draft copy of the law titled "Consumers' Protection Ordinance, 2007" has been formulated under the guidance of experts after studying such laws in India, Pakistan and some other countries.
BDR sources said that the draft ordinance also recommended setting up of a directorate, which will ensure welfare of the consumers.
If any consumer is cheated by businessman or institution, the victims will have the right to make complaints to the director general of the directorate in black and white, the draft copy said.
The proposed directorate will be headed by the commerce minister as chairman, the draft suggested.
"In the draft copy of the ordinance, the definitions of syndicate, hoarding and power of the director general of the directorate have been outlined," said a senior BDR official while talking to the FE Thursday.
The Council of Advisers at its meeting Sunday might also approve the proposed amendment to the existing "Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969".
Besides, the council will also discuss the progress of the police service improvement programme and the suit filed by M/S Tulip Computers of the Netherlands against the Bangladesh government.
The Dutch computer accessories company filed a case against the government at a Dutch court for scraping their contract under which the company was to supply computers to educational institutions and train the teachers of Bangladesh.
The Dutch court in a judgement asked the Bangladesh government to repay Euro 4.2 million to the company as compensation.
The council might take a decision on the case at its meeting Sunday, sources said.