The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Thursday said it will intensify its campaign against adulterated products and step up pressure on the government to curb electricity theft as it presented a progress report on its 2025-26 annual work plan.
The report, covering September 2025 to August 2026, was unveiled at a press conference at the CAB's central office in Segunbagicha.
CAB President AHM Shafiquzzaman, who spoke as the chief guest, said the organisation has made progress in the 16 priority areas identified in its work plan, with district and upazila committees becoming more active and work underway to reform its constitution.
He said CAB lacks its own office and has written to the Housing and Public Works Department seeking one, adding that the organisation has received Tk 1 crore from the Ministry of Finance as part of efforts to build a fund.
"Consumer interest must get top priority. We do not want to side with dishonest businessmen," Shafiquzzaman said, adding that CAB is working with development partners GAIN and ESDO as well as international organisations, and will take seriously any threats faced by those working at the field level.
On electricity, he said CAB has held hearings over excessive charges, and demanded a halt to power theft, but the government has yet to take adequate steps, adding that CAB will keep up pressure on the authorities over the issue.
The CAB president said their organisation ran issue-based campaigns nationwide, including a recent protest in Chattogram against a hike in transport fares, and is working to prevent child labour, noting that around 12 lakh children in Bangladesh are engaged in hazardous work and about 50 lakh in child labour overall.
Outlining future plans, he said CAB will expand its social media activities, organise consumers, and prioritise preventing adulterated goods from entering the market through a stronger anti-adulteration drive.
Shafiquzzaman said it will also prepare area-wise price lists for products and relaunch its publication "Bhokta Kantho" in a new format.
CAB Executive Director Ahmed Ekramullah, presenting the progress report, said the organisation has strengthened its organisational structure by reforming 60 district committees and is working with the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection, among other bodies, to raise public awareness.
He said CAB is also engaging universities and young people, running health-related programmes in various districts, and has joined the Power in AI initiative, besides working on child labour prevention and holding consultations with stakeholders across the country's divisions.
CAB Secretary General Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, who chaired the event, said the government involves CAB in various initiatives, including a case concerning the theft of luggage at the airport. "We are not enemies of businessmen; we work against dishonest ones.”