Dhaka:The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has imposed fines totaling Tk 12.16 lakh on 82 businesses across the country for various irregularities. The nationwide operations aimed to prevent adulteration and counterfeiting while ensuring fair pricing and adequate supplies of essential commodities, including LPG cylinders.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the drives were carried out in 28 districts, including Dhaka, by 43 teams from the directorate. These teams inspected both wholesale and retail businesses on Thursday. In a special operation in the Madhya Badda area of the capital, three businesses were fined a total of Tk 6 lakh for packaging and marketing counterfeit coffee and sauces. This drive was led by DNCRP Dhaka Divisional Office assistant directors Md Abdul Jabbar Mondal and Indrani Roy.
Doha Corporate, Masum Enterprise, and Junaid Enterprise were each fined Tk 2 lakh under Section 50 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, for using counterfeit packaging for products labeled as 'Nascafe Coffee', 'American BBQ Sauce', and 'Yellow Mustard Sauce'. The operation was supported by members of SRB-1 and Badda Police Station.
During the nationwide operations, the DNCRP teams checked the supply and pricing of gas cylinders and essential commodities, ensuring that businesses adhered to government-set prices. They also verified whether businesses displayed updated price lists, used accurate weights and measures, and refrained from selling expired, counterfeit, or adulterated goods.
Traders were instructed to display accurate price lists prominently, sell products at stipulated prices, and ensure proper weights and measurements. Warnings were issued against selling counterfeit, adulterated, or expired products, hoarding goods, and creating artificial shortages. Businesses were also instructed to maintain purchase and sales receipts and provide them to customers.
To promote public awareness, leaflets and pamphlets were distributed among consumers and traders. The monitoring activities were supported by law enforcement agencies, health inspectors, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), and industry and trade association representatives.
The directorate urged consumers to avoid purchasing more products than necessary to prevent artificial shortages. It also advised checking price lists, maximum retail prices, manufacturing and expiry dates, and weights and measurements before making purchases. Consumers were encouraged to collect receipts or vouchers from sellers and report any irregularities or fraud by calling the directorate's hotline at 16121.
The directorate affirmed that such monitoring drives would continue to safeguard consumer rights.