Speakers at a seminar here yesterday emphasized the need for proper enforcement of the Consumers’ Rights Protection (CRP) Law for protecting the consumers’ rights together with freeing the human body from any food poisoning and other contamination.They observed that the issue of the consumers’ rights is well accepted throughout the world and in the free market economy and there is no alternative to proper enforcement of the law.So, they observed immediate step should be taken to wide-ranging enforcement activities alongside bringing all the businessmen and others concerned under the awareness program in this regard.Commissioner Office of Rajshahi division and Department of National Consumers Rights Protection (DNCRP) jointly organized the seminar at Nanking Darbar Hall with the main thrust of creating mass-awareness through more campaign and publicity on the issue.Around 70 government and non-government officials’ concerned, professional leaders, members of consumers association of Bangladesh, media personnel and other stakeholders attended the seminar sharing their views on the issue.Commissioner of Rajsahi division Helaluddin Ahmed and DIG of Police of Rajshahi Range Iqbal Bahar addressed the seminar as chief and special guests respectively with Additional Commissioner Munir Hossain in the chair. Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury, Divisional Director of Health-in-Charge Dr Abdul Hannan and President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Md Muniruzzaman also spoke as special guests.During his keynote presentation, Apurba Adhikary, Deputy Director-in-Charge of DNCRP, gave an overview and salient feature of the issue and its multipurpose aspects.The Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009 was enacted by the government of Bangladesh in April 2009 to ensure consumer protection by realising consumer’s right to quality goods and services at fair prices.It also highlights consumers’ right to information regarding quality, quantity, standard and value of the goods and services.In his remarks, Chief Guest Helaluddin Ahmed said consumer protection, in the broader sense, refers to the laws and regulations that ensure fair interaction between service providers and consumers.He mentioned that the consumers’ rights in the developed nations focus on the right to information, choice, redress and representation, but we are deprived of such privileges.Unsafe food has been adjudged as a major threat to public health in Bangladesh, so emphasis should be given on adopting effective measures in this regard, he added.In this regard, Chamber President Md Muniruzzaman called for state control over the market for making it free from all sorts of manipulation, distortion, harassment and deception along with ensuring a healthy atmosphere in the market.BSS, Rajshahi
