Taking initiatives to form consumers' organisations
Friday, 14 May 2010
IT is high time for Bangladesh to have effective consumers' organisations. The Consumers' Association of Bangladesh (CAB) appears to be the only one in the field. But even this body is yet to become a powerful entity.
Not having these organisations is the main reason for the sellers maintaining their one-sided stranglehold on the consumers. However, the government should not be put to blame for having not many effective consumers' organisations. Private persons -- whatever their number -- in the fitness of things should form their own organisations. However, they should expect a facilitating governmental role for this matter. The government needs to facilitate such organisations to set up and run their offices at affordable costs as far as possible. Such organisations do also need some kind of support for sending of mail at concession rates, etc. But the main endeavour to form such bodies must come from the rank and the file of the people themselves.
Mass media, specially the press, can float the idea of forming such consumer associations extensively. They can run a campaign for a length of time to imprint the idea of the need for, and usefulness of, such consumer bodies. Social and philanthropic organisations can take strong initiatives in this matter. Groups representing civil society can exchange views with the CAB with a view to much strengthening the latter for it to emerge as the first powerful organisation of this kind in Bangladesh.
Lutfun Nahar Lata
Nilkhet, Dhaka.
Not having these organisations is the main reason for the sellers maintaining their one-sided stranglehold on the consumers. However, the government should not be put to blame for having not many effective consumers' organisations. Private persons -- whatever their number -- in the fitness of things should form their own organisations. However, they should expect a facilitating governmental role for this matter. The government needs to facilitate such organisations to set up and run their offices at affordable costs as far as possible. Such organisations do also need some kind of support for sending of mail at concession rates, etc. But the main endeavour to form such bodies must come from the rank and the file of the people themselves.
Mass media, specially the press, can float the idea of forming such consumer associations extensively. They can run a campaign for a length of time to imprint the idea of the need for, and usefulness of, such consumer bodies. Social and philanthropic organisations can take strong initiatives in this matter. Groups representing civil society can exchange views with the CAB with a view to much strengthening the latter for it to emerge as the first powerful organisation of this kind in Bangladesh.
Lutfun Nahar Lata
Nilkhet, Dhaka.