United News of Bangladesh

Speakers at a protest rally on Sunday expressed grave concern over the proliferation of adulterated products and the abnormal price hikes of essential commodities, stating that these factors have made life unbearable for the common people. The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) organized the rally and a protest meeting in front of the National Press Club to mark World Consumer Rights Day. Addressing the gathering, CAB President and former Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman lamented that while the day is observed globally, it is unfortunate that it is not being observed nationally by the government in Bangladesh. He alleged that market syndicates are irrationally increasing the prices of daily necessities. "The government must immediately break these syndicates to bring relief back to the market," he urged. Echoing these sentiments, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Convener of the Bangladesh Sadharan Nagarik Samaj, claimed that some dishonest businessmen are controlling the market through syndicates by using political affiliations as a shield. He noted that if the government political party curtails such opportunities, the syndicates would largely collapse. Ruheen Hossain Prince, former General Secretary of CPB, emphasized the need to ensure safe and affordable production starting from the manufacturing stage. He also called for strict surveillance against toxic and adulterated food and stressed the importance of guaranteed safe drinking water. Other speakers, including CAB General Secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan and Organizing Secretary Prof. Dr. Syed Mizanur Rahman Raju, pointed out that a lack of business ethics during Ramadan and Eid often leads to market instability. During the event, speakers raised several demands to protect consumer interests, including: Strict action against adulterated, counterfeit, and unsafe products, legal measures against irrational price hikes and hoarding, clear labeling of accurate prices, production, and expiration dates, modernizing the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, To ensure the safety of products sold through online and e-commerce platforms. World Consumer Rights Day commemorates the historic declaration by US President John F. Kennedy on consumer rights to the US Congress on March 15, 1962. The day has been celebrated globally since 1983, and CAB has been consistently observing it in Bangladesh to advocate for the fundamental rights of consumers.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), a platform of consumer rights protection, on Monday formed a human chain in the capital protesting price hike of essentials and placed an 8-point demand including one to ensure exemplary punishment of unscrupulous traders. The human chain was held in front of the Jatiya Press Club around 11 am. The other demands included ensuring  supply of the daily essentials, increasing market monitoring, increasing selling of TCB products through trucks, taking stern action against those involved in selling edible oil at open market, forming of separate department or consumers ministry under the Commerce Ministry, increasing the number of TCB card holders to 1.50 crore from the existing one crore and ensuring strict punishment against the sellers of edible oil in open market which are prohibited by the law. Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, CAB general secretary, Ruhin Hossain Prince, general secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Mohiuddin Ahmed, convener of Bangladesh Sadharan Nagorik Somaj and CAB members joined the programme. Tea workers rally in Sylhet demands unpaid wages, protection for estates Expressing concern over the abnormal rise in prices of daily essentials, Ruhin Hossain, said, "The government is talking about reforms in many areas, but not thinking about reform in the market system. It will be impossible to control the prices of goods without reforming the market system.” He also said that the costs for fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, electricity, and water must be reduced to ensure uninterrupted production. Expressing solidarity with the CAB demand, Mohiuddin Ahmed, said “The instability in the market continues because no action has been taken against those had earned extra profit through syndicates during the previous government. Unless action is taken against these so-called syndicates, market discipline will not be restored." Kishoreganj’s Pagla Mosque collects over Tk 8 crore in donations Meanwhile, Humayun Kabir said, "Even during the peak season, the prices of potatoes and onions are high. Despite the ban on the sale of open edible oil, it is still available in the market. The government has no control over this. There are laws regarding this, but they are not being enforced, causing market instability." He also urged the government to form a Market Control Commission and CAB will provide full cooperation to restore consumer comfort. Besides, speakers also said that although farmers are selling new potatoes at lower prices, the price of those kept in cold storages remains high. Despite the ample supply of winter vegetables in the local market, the prices have begun to fall but the consumers are not benefiting from these price reductions due to the syndicates in the market, they alleged.

The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Saturday castigated the recommendation to hike bus fare by 80 percent amid the coronavirus pandemic, calling it unjust and unacceptable.