A day-long seminar on consumer rights protection law in Bogra

Sanju Roy, Bogra: AHM Safiquzzaman, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the National Consumer Rights Protection Department, said that citizens are all consumers in one way or another. As consumers, everyone has the right to receive quality products at a fair price. In this case, traders and buyers must always be aware of the rights of consumers. He said that while the syndicate of unscrupulous traders was trying to increase the prices of essential commodities in the country, the Department of Consumer Protection was trying to bring positive change by conducting campaigns with less manpower across the country. Recently, under the leadership of Deputy Commissioners in different districts of the country including Bogra, commendable campaigns have been conducted through this department to curb illegal stocks in rice mills. Not only that, visible action has been taken against those involved in the oil syndicate across the country, including the capital Dhaka. Last Eid, a campaign was launched against the syndicate who tried to increase the bus fare so that a positive response was received. He emphasized on raising public awareness at the grassroots level on how people can benefit more from this department by ensuring the rights of consumers across the country and in this regard he especially thanked the media. At the same time, he called upon all the media personnel to cooperate in the campaign and support it in the future as well. He made the remarks while addressing a day-long seminar on Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009 organized by the Rajshahi Divisional Office of the National Consumer Rights Protection in the convention hall room of five-star Hotel Momin in Bogra on Saturday. Manjur Mohammad Shahriar, Director, National Consumer Rights Protection Department, addressed the meeting as a special guest under the chairmanship of Bogra Deputy Commissioner Md. Ziaul Haque. Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Helena Akhter also spoke on behalf of Bogra District Superintendent of Police as a special guest at the seminar. The seminar was conducted by Iftekharul Alam Rizvi, Assistant Director, Bogra District Office, Department of Consumer Protection, and was welcomed by Apurba Adhikari, Deputy Director, Rajshahi Divisional Office. The seminar was organized with the participation of heads of various government departments of Bogra and Rajshahi divisions, representatives of various law enforcement units, members of the National Security Intelligence Agency, business leaders and other persons involved in consumer rights protection activities. Directed by Hasan Al Maruf, Assistant Director, Rajshahi Divisional Office. At the seminar, everyone was given an idea about the acts and crimes against consumer rights and its penalties. Through the seminar participants, various offenses related to consumer rights such as non-disclosure of price list in shops or businesses, sale of products and drugs at exorbitant prices, sale of adulterated products, adulteration of prohibited products in food products, illegal production or processing of products, purchase by false advertisement. Crimes such as defrauding the public, improperly selling or delivering the promised goods or services, tampering with weights or measures, counterfeiting or manufacturing products, selling expired products or drugs, endangering the life or safety of service recipients, are reported to the department within 30 days. Victims are urged to file written or online complaints. Complainants will receive 25 per cent of the fines imposed on a company or vendor if the consumer's complaint against the company is proved at the end of the hearing. During the seminar, Bogra Sadar Upazila Chairman Abu Sufian Safiq, Bogra Sadar Upazila Nibarhi Officer Samar Kumar Pal, NSI Bogra Deputy Director Muzaharul Islam Mamun, Senior District Information Officer Kabir Uddin, ACC Bogra District Office Assistant Director Md. : Kamruzzaman, Ajmal Kabir, Assistant Director, Bogra Regional Passport Office, Mahfuzul Islam Raj, Vice-President, Bogra Chamber of Commerce and Industry; At the end of the seminar, Bogra Deputy Commissioner Md. Ziaul Haque announced the conclusion of the seminar by taking a pledge to work for the positive participation of all against the adulteration of building a golden Bangladesh and ensuring consumer rights everywhere.