A meeting involving super shop operators, wholesalers and retailers was held on Monday to discuss measures to stabilize the prices of essential commodities and ensure an uninterrupted supply chain.
The meeting, organized by the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection (DNCRP), began at 10:30am at the conference room of its headquarters at TCB Bhaban in Karwan Bazar.
DNCRP Director General and Additional Secretary Mohammad Zahirul Islam attended the meeting as the chief guest.
Officials from the DNCRP, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Dhaka South City Corporation, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Shop Owners Association and Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), along with representatives of major super shops, market associations, wholesalers, retailers and the media, attended the meeting.
In her welcome address, DNCRP Director (Operations and Laboratory) Atia Sultana said stable prices of essential goods and an uninterrupted supply chain are crucial for economic stability and social peace.
She stressed the need for collective efforts to establish a transparent, accountable and consumer-friendly market system amid the economic challenges facing the country.
Nayan Kumar Saha, deputy director of the DNCRP’s Dhaka divisional office, shared his experience of market monitoring and said reluctance among some traders to display price lists and preserve purchase receipts had been observed during inspections.
He urged traders to uphold business ethics and refrain from facilitating the sale of counterfeit and adulterated products.
During the open discussion, representatives of different market associations identified irregularities and mismanagement in the transport sector as among the factors contributing to rising prices of essential commodities.
They also proposed forming police-station-based teams to assess local traders’ problems and involving representatives of local business associations in market inspections and enforcement drives.
Participants emphasised the need for greater public awareness and coordinated action to prevent illegal hoarding, the creation of artificial shortages and abnormal price hikes.
CAB Organising Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said a well-managed transport system, reducing the influence of intermediaries, raising public awareness and ensuring effective enforcement of the law were essential to keeping prices stable and supplies normal.
Representatives of various government agencies said legal action alone would not be enough to bring about sustainable changes in the market. They stressed the importance of awareness, responsibility and ethical business practices among both consumers and traders.
Traders were urged to ensure that products came from reliable sources and to refrain from supplying counterfeit or adulterated goods.
The meeting also warned that strict legal action would be taken against businesses violating government directives. Where necessary, the trade licences of offending establishments could also be cancelled.
DNCRP Director (Complaints and Investigation) Mohammad Masum Arefin said cooperation from all stakeholders was essential to ensuring safe food at fair prices and protecting consumer rights.
He said regular market monitoring and enforcement drives by the DNCRP had led to significant improvements in irregularities found at super shops and other businesses, while also increasing consumers’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities.
Speaking as the chief guest, DNCRP Director General Mohammad Zahirul Islam said ensuring fairness and market stability was a shared responsibility and essential to maintaining people’s standard of living.
“Fines should not be the primary objective. What is more important is to properly analyse the market situation and take appropriate measures,” he said.
He said the need for enforcement could be reduced significantly if consumers and traders maintained mutual understanding and acted responsibly.
The director general also called for greater public awareness of consumer rights and a broader social movement against dishonest traders and intermediaries.
He said the DNCRP would take initiatives to recognise and provide certificates to businesses that play a positive role in protecting consumer rights and comply with existing laws and policies.
In his concluding remarks, meeting chair Sebastian Rema, DNCRP Director (Administration and Finance), said enforcement of the law alone was not sufficient to protect consumer rights.
He stressed the need for positive changes in people’s values and responsible behaviour, noting that traders and consumers are mutually dependent.
Rema urged traders to properly display price lists, ensure accurate weights and measurements, and preserve receipts for purchases and sales.
He also called on consumers to become more aware of their rights and responsibilities and urged both sides to play responsible roles in building a disciplined and consumer-friendly market system.
