World Consumer Rights Day like every other year is going to be celebrated. The day will be observed on Sunday, March 15, by the initiative of the National Consumer Rights Protection Department. This year's theme will be 'Mujib Borsher Ongikar- Shurokkhito Bhokta Odhikar' in honor of the anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The information was given at a press briefing on Saturday at the conference room of the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate at the TCB building at Kawran Bazar in the capital. The day is observed to raise more awareness among the masses. A 'Consumer Awareness' hotline number will be inaugurated on 15 March for consumer-related complaints.
At present, thousands of buyers are buying their necessities, some have good experiences while others are bad. Some consumers are buying overpriced goods while others are being taken advantage of.
As part of the consumer awareness program, 'Jari gaan' will be played across 8 places in Dhaka. At the same time, the day will be celebrated across the whole nation. Various events have been organized on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, like rallies, discussion meetings and other activities but it has been halted in response to the current pandemic of Corona.
Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin, Ministry of Commerce Secretary said, "In this coming Ramadan and throughout the whole year, we will be working together to ensure the initiatives of the government on ensuring consumer rights through proper pricing of goods across all levels, starting from importers and manufacturers to the consumers. I hope everyone from their own respective place will help with our initiatives."
Bablu Kumar Saha, Director General of the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate, said, “Various campaigns and initiatives have been executed observing the World Consumers Rights Day. National Consumers Rights protection agency serves both consumers and businesses. We do not carry out drives based on complaints only, we do it on any given day at any given time. We have been organizing meetings with various organizations every Wednesday which has received a huge response.”
According to the directorate, the National Consumer Rights-Conservation Directorate has raided 26 thousand 3 hundred and 94 markets in the light of Section 17 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act - 2009, from March 8, 2009, till 2020 where 55 crores 60 lac and 3 thousand 642 takas were fined across 74,210 establishments.
The fine has been recovered to the tune of Rs. During this period, the Consumer Rights Protection Directorate has received a complaint of 30,295 out of which 28,589 complaints have been settled. On the basis of these allegations, 6,046 companies have been fined and the government has secured a fine of Tk. 4 crores 20 lac 71 thousand and 8 only.
Unconfirmed allegations amount to 1,706. The total fine amount is Tk 59 crore 80 lakh 74 thousand 650. Meanwhile, the complainants have so far received a refund of Tk. 1 crore 3 lac 90 thousand 752. According to that estimate, 5965 people received refunds, which is an average of 25%. The department is also distributing posters, pamphlets, leaflets, stickers, and calendars at various times to raise awareness of consumer rights.
