Call to protect consumers' rights

RAJSHAHI, Jan 26 (BSS)- Proper enforcement of the Consumers' Rights Protection (CRP) Law could be the vital means of protecting the consumers' rights together with freeing the human body from any food poisoning and other contamination.

The issue of the consumers' rights is accepted throughout the world and in the free-market economy.

There is an urgent need for bringing all the businessmen and others under the awareness programme. The observations came at a consultation with upazila level consumers and civil society bodies.

The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and Issue-based Project on Food Safety Governance in Poultry Sector jointly organised the consultation at the Barnoi conference hall of Paba Upazila Parishad on Thursday.

With local chapter CAB President Kazi Giash in the chair, Upazila Chairman Begum Khairunnessa, Vice-chairman Ashraful Haque, British Council Project Coordinator Shaymal Chakma, CAB Project Coordinator Mostofa Kamal, Field Coordinator Amor D Costa and Field Officer Mohidul Hassan addressed the meeting.

The speakers said that consumer protection, in the broader sense, refers to the laws and regulations that ensure fair interaction between service providers and consumers.

Begum Khairunnessa mentioned that the consumers' rights in the developed nations focus on the right to information, choice, redress and representation, but the Bangladeshi people do not enjoy such privileges.

Unsafe food has been adjudged as a major threat to public health in Bangladesh, so emphasis should be given to adopt effective measures in this regard, she added.