Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has launched a call centre and a new online newspaper, 'voktakantho.com', aiming to help protect customers' rights in the country.
The new services were formally inaugurated at a function at the auditorium of Daffodil International University (DIU) city campus on Wednesday.
Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) Md Shafiqul Islam Laskar attended the function as the chief guest with CAB President Golam Rahman in the chair.
Head of Voktakantho editorial board Syed Abul Maksud, editor Dr Md Jahangir Hossain, publisher Architect Mubasshar Hussain, and CAB's energy adviser Professor M Shamsul Alam attended the function, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Md Shafiqul Islam Laskar said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has kept a sharp eye on the country's consumers' rights issues.
"The DNCRP is implementing her directions," he said, adding that the organisation is still young, which started journey following enactment of the relevant law in 2009.
"Despite DNCRP is still at its flourishing stage, its various activities in last several years are the testimony of growing awareness among the customers," he said.
He said the number of complaints lodged with the DNCRP increased by 5,478 in the fiscal year (FY) 2016-17 compared to the previous year. The consumers filed 9,019 complaints in FY 2017-18, of which 8,122 have been completely settled.
Underscoring the importance of various consumer rights platforms, Mr Islam also said: "The DNCRP, in addition to its regular duty, is extending its support to different entities, who work for consumer rights protection".
In this connection, the DNCRP is supporting the CAB call centre and online news portal.
In his speech, Mr. Golam Rahman said that being a voluntary organisation, CAB did not receive any support from any commercial entity. The new initiatives will help the platform move further and ensure good governance in the society.
Following the discussion, guests visited the call centre and online newspaper office established in the city's Panthapath.
A customer will get advice from the CAB representatives about tackling rights violating issues by calling the call centre through numbers 01977008071 and 01977008072.
The phone numbers will remain open from 8.00am to 8.00pm except Friday.
Besides, willing individuals can stay alert on consumers' rights issues through the online newspaper.
Consumer rights related news report, analysis, relevant governmental activities and global perspective on the issue will be published in the online news paper.
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