Dhaka: Speakers at a dialogue here today underscored the need for ensuring effective market surveillance to protect the interests of both consumers and businesses, especially in the market of essential commodities. They emphasized the importance of enforcing proper market supervision, addressing artificial crises, ensuring product quality, and curbing extortion and insecurity in the transportation of goods.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the dialogue highlighted the importance of addressing complexities in the import process, improving storage facilities, minimizing distrust among traders and consumers, and tackling the lack of fair competition in the market. The sudden price hikes in the local market due to supply and demand crunches, especially in essential commodities, were also discussed. The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) arranged the multi-stakeholder dialogue on consumer and business protection through market monitoring.
Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Shahjahan Mia pointed out that due to middlemen in the transportation of goods and market management, the market is witnessing high prices, particularly in essential commodities. He urged ethical businessmen to take action against dishonest businessmen whose practices harm the reputation of ethical business operations.
Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), Mohammed Alim Akhter Khan, noted that prices often shoot up due to middlemen and called for concerted efforts by government agencies to control the market. He highlighted the challenge of limited workforce affecting effective market supervision and suggested increasing coordination among agencies and reviewing the Consumer Rights Protection Act.
Member of Bangladesh Competition Commission Dr. Akhtaruzzaman Talukder emphasized that fair market competition benefits both consumers and traders. He suggested that adequate information and regular research related to supply and demand can help prevent unequal competition.
Member of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Professor Dr. Mohammad Shoeb stated that while his organization conducts regular drives to ensure safe food, strengthening market monitoring activities in a coordinated manner is necessary. He advocated for adopting technology or digital services to enhance market monitoring performance.
Razeev H Chowdhury, Acting President of DCCI, chaired the discussion, emphasizing the need for an integrated framework of market supervision and the creation of an accountable and competitive market monitoring system. He highlighted the challenges faced by consumers, especially small and medium enterprises, due to alleged price manipulation, artificial crises, and low-quality products.
Other notable speakers included Haji Mohammad Golam Mowla, General Secretary of Moulovi Bazar Traders Association, Khandaker Monir Ahmed, Senior Vice President of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association, and various other industry leaders and DCCI officials.