Staff Reporter :
There are irregularities everywhere in the country and the government is unable to take action against the irregularities fearing big crisis in goods supply chain.
“We are finding irregularities, wherever, we are placing our hands. But, we can’t take any legal action fearing big disruption in supply chain,” said AHM Shafiquzzaman, Director General of the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection (DNCRP).
The DG was speaking at a seminar organized by the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) at its conference room in the city on Thursday.
Citing various examples of exploitation of consumers’ rights, he said, “As much as the consumers are being deceived by the service providers or suppliers that they no longer understand that their rights are being curtailed.”
With signal to conduct drives against different service providers, he also said, “People are not getting proper service from WASA, DESA, Titas. Water quality is not good.
Gas pressure is low. There is frequent load shedding in electricity supply. The planes are not leaving on time. Syndication has been created in all sectors.”
“The biggest weakness of the consumers’ right protection directorate is the lack of accurate information. It has no legal source of getting information. There is also no scope to scrutinize the information received from the individuals,” said Shafiquzzaman.
Following this, the directorate has decided to work with all intelligences and law enforcement agencies jointly, he added. He said according to the data, the oil crisis was not supposed to happen, but it did.
“The refiners have reduced production and the traders have not supplied oil by making syndicate. Despite knowing this, we can’t take action against the syndication fearing big crisis as the government wants to keep stability in supply chain,” he said.
Manzoor Mohammad Shahriar, Director (Admin and Finance), said, “There are huge irregularities everywhere in the country. Even, in the reputed institutions.
There will no places remain outside of penalty or punishment, if the DNCRP acts properly.”
“Following this, the consumer rights protection laws need to be strengthened in line with sustaining the county’s development. The DNCRP needs to be empowered further with sufficient manpower and other logistic supports,” Shahriar said.
He also sought media support protecting the consumers’ rights.
Shafiqul Alam, Vice President of the ERF, said, “The nature of business is changing for economic progress in the country. The purchasing power of consumers has also increased. So, the Consumer Rights Act needs to be amended and punishment for violators of the law should be made more severe.”
He also recommended increasing the research and intelligence activities of the consumer directorate.
ERF President Sharmeen Rinvi and General Secretary S M Rashidul Islam, among others, spoke on the occasion.
