Reform Bangladesh Competition Commission immediately, says Bangladesh Intellectual Property Forum

The Bangladesh Intellectual Property Forum has demanded that Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) be reconstituted and reformed with immediate effect.

The non-profit organisation, which works as a catalyst for promoting intellectual property rights, technology and competition law and their developments in Bangladesh, made the call through a letter to the chief adviser of the interim government and the commerce ministry.

The letter highlighted the current composition of Bangladesh Competition Commission as being in violation of Section 7(3) of the Competition Act, 2012.

The current composition of Bangladesh Competition Commission, as outlined in the letter, consists entirely of members from the administrative cadre, none of whom possess the requisite expertise in economics or legal affairs as required by Section 7 (3) of the Competition Act, 2012, the forum said.

It said in the letter that any decision taken by the current competition commission is illegal and void for not having the requisite quorum as mandated by law.

"Appropriately knowledgeable and experienced persons in the aforesaid fields are required to adjudicate competition law cases in order to ensure fairness and justice," said Barrister Hamidul Mishbah, founder of Bangladesh Intellectual Property Forum.

"Otherwise, the very purpose of establishing the commission which includes keeping the price of basic commodities within citizens affordability, and ensuring investment-friendly environment in Bangladesh would be jeopardised."

Considering these issues, Bangladesh Intellectual Property Forum has urged the government to take immediate steps to reform Bangladesh Competition Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act, 2012.

The Forum remains hopeful that the government will address these concerns accordingly and looks forward to a positive response in due course.