The Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection and the district administration have taken decisive action against irregularities in the egg market, resulting in the fining of authorities at the Pahartali market in Chittagong.
As a reaction to this enforcement, the Chittagong Egg Traders Association has declared an indefinite halt to egg sales, claiming harassment. In response, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Chittagong Division and City Committee have demanded severe measures against the syndicate, including sealing shops and exemplary punishments under the Special Powers Act.
Amid this clash, on August 28, 2023, leaders of CAB expressed their concerns through a statement. Notable figures including SM Najer Hossain, Vice President of CAB Central Committee, Kazi Iqbal Bahar Chhaberi, General Secretary of CAB Chittagong Division, and Journalist M Nasirul Haque, Vice President of CAB Chittagong Division, signed the statement. Jasmine Sultana Paru, Metropolitan President, and Ajay Mitra Shanku, General Secretary, along with other representatives from different CAB divisions, added their voices to this statement.
In the statement, the leaders pointed out that despite a stable supply of eggs for several days, egg trading syndicates had created an artificial crisis in the market. The Consumer Rights Protection authorities and the district administration, after taking evidence-backed action against wholesale egg traders and vendors at Pahartali market, were accused of ‘harassment’. The leaders noted that this claim was an attempt to deflect from the fact that unscrupulous egg traders had manipulated prices for personal gain.
The leaders raised questions about the fear of adhering to government rules, including transparent pricing mechanisms. They criticized the manipulation-driven approach of some businesses, noting that they blame others while committing wrongdoings themselves. Moreover, the statement highlighted the lack of hard purchase receipts and adherence to price lists when the administration intervenes against market irregularities. This lack of compliance is often followed by a series of excuses and tactics to undermine the enforcement of the law.
CAB leaders emphasized that egg prices had surged from Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,250 per hundred without justification. The leaders also revealed that unethical business circles were artificially creating shortages in supply and manipulating market prices for their gains. They called for strong measures to bring accountability to these practices, indicating that a culture of blame-shifting was unacceptable.
In conclusion, the CAB leaders urged a holistic adherence to the Consumer Protection Act of 2009 and government regulations, emphasizing that businesses should prioritize ethical practices and the interests of the public over personal gains.
