Editorial
A new law on consumer rights
It is enforcement that really matters
We are pleased that the council of advisers has in principle approved the Consumer Protection Ordinance 2007. That we have not had a consumer rights law even after 36 years of national independence was a pity. It reflected badly on our legislative bankruptcy and lack of respect for civic rights in a vital area, namely, rational working of the market. Therefore the government's concrete move for the law is welcome.
The woes of Bangladesh's consumers are many and varied. One only needs to observe certain sectors, such as hospitals and clinics, to know how in the name of services people are being swindled day after day without any recourse to the law. Drugs whose sell-by dates have expired are foisted upon unsuspecting customers; and enormous costs are incurred by them through having tests done at prescribed diagnostic labs. A significant area where consumers have suffered badly is in the food sector, where adulteration of foodstuff has gone unchecked for ages. Though such bodies as the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) have waged a gallant struggle to draw attention to the issues that citizens face on a day to day basis, not much has happened to convince us that a vibrant citizens' group has come up to challenge the wrongs committed by service providers. People are regularly cheated on weights. One can go beyond all that, to spot other areas where consumers are almost always victims of apathy or plain cheating. Power outages, a sudden suspension of mobile phone services, delayed departures and arrivals at airports and railway terminals, unbridled rises in the prices of daily items of necessity, et cetera, are all potent instances of people being made hostage in a predominantly sellers' market.
It is these wrongs that must be corrected if the proposed law on consumer rights protection is to attain its goals. The formation of a 21-member committee to advise the government on consumer rights is fine as long as it makes itself effective. In the broad sense, the authorities must remember that even as they promote a tax culture in the country, they must fulfill their own responsibilities by ensuring that consumers actually enjoy their rights. Additionally, concerted steps must now be taken by citizens' groups, NGOs and civil society towards promoting among people an awareness of the rights they are entitled to as consumers. Overall, a strong mechanism must be in place to ensure that the new laws regarding consumer rights are enforced, and to the hilt.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments