<%-- Page Title--%> Consumer corner <%-- End Page Title--%>

August 29, 2004 

Consumer protection law soon?

Quazi Faruque

Recently draft consumer rights law okayed in principle in the Cabinet proposing 10 years imprisonment for selling adulterated and counterfeit goods. There has been also kept provision of punishment for not providing services to the consumers as agreed or selling low quality; date expired medicines, drugs and so on. The draft law titled 'Consumers Rights Protection Law' proposes a special tribunal to try the accused responsible for selling and producing fake, low quality commodities injurious to human health. The Law, Justice and parliamentary affairs Minister Barrister Maudud Ahmed said, 'we will again send it to the Cabinet for final approval. After the final approval in the Cabinet it will be placed before the parliament for enactment of Law.' Commerce Ministry's high-level sources said that some of the points are being scrutinised very soon and sent to the ministry of Law for vetting. They will review the relevant laws of the different countries specially the consumer rights protection law of India, Srilanka, Nepal and other Countries. It may be mentioned here that these countries have passed this kind of laws long ago. But in our country it took more then ten years to bring this draft at this stage. But everyone must admit that due to strong and persistent lobbying of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) with the policymaking level, this proposed law has been approved in the Cabinet in principle. Now at least we can be hopeful that in near future we can get the Consumer Rights protection Law which is very much needed at this age of Globalization, open Market Economy, Trade Liberalization and many other affairs which have very close relevance with the changing global situation. Today at this age of open market it's true economy that consumer are given the priority but in our country we the consumer are simply helpless and mostly fallen to the mercy of unscrupulous business community whose only the motto is excess and excess profit making. And it is observed that in each and every sector either selling commodities or service providing, gradually syndicating growing up should really be dealt with propose laws. In absence of protective and appropriate laws in the country the mass people have become very much helpless. Many of us believe that due to the high handedness and sometimes-close alliance with the Government machinery enactment of these sorts of law has been delayed. Of course recent approval in principle of this proposed laws in the Cabinet must lead us to the long cherished goal. The consumers really need and make its best use. As proposed in the draft law, a national Consumer Council will be set up to formulate policies to protect consumers' rights. A consumer bureau will investigate allegations by consumers and if it finds any proof, the matter will be sent to the tribunal. Besides the cabinet has decided to increase the proposed six members council and ask the law ministry to act in the line. The council members will mainly be from the private sector.

However, now if we look back to the history of contemporary consumer movement termed as consumerism started in mid sixties as essentially a loner's crusade by Ralf Nader. It's an organised movement of citizens and Government to establish rights and powers of the byres and to protect the interest as consumers from deception and fraud. With the adoption of United Nations Guide lines for Consumer protection in 1985 it gained the momentum and consumer rights were finally elevated to a position of international recognition and legitimacy, acknowledge a by developed and developing countries alike. Today consumerism in the advanced as well as in many of the developing countries is meant not only a social movement for realisation of consumers rights alone but it means a promise as well as to make a happy and resourceful world free from wants, exploitations and hazards. However, from right this moment attempts should be made to undertake a popular campaign through out the country using various methods and media to educate people about the provisions of the proposed laws, rights and responsibilities of the consumers. Apart from consumers' organisations, business houses responsibility also lie with the Government to come forward to undertake these sorts of campaigning for consumer education. Such measures will help make effective implementation of consumers protection law in the country in the coming days. In UN guidelines doing so, each Government must set its own priorities for the protection of consumer in accordance with economic and social circumstances in the countries as per needs of its population.

The legitimate needs which the guidelines are intended to meet are :
*The protection of consumers from hazards to their health safety.
*The promotion and protection of the economic interests of consumers.
*Access of consumers to adequate information to enable their views to make informed choices according to individual needs and wishes.
*Consumer education.
*Freedom to form consumer and other relevant groups or organisations to present their views in decision making processes affecting them.
These are the very small portions of the guidelines. There are lots of issues, which have mentioned in the guidelines adopted by U.N. however, now Government is to take appropriate measures and expedite enactment and effective implementation of the long awaited consumer protection law.

Author is the General Secretary, CAB.