A clothing and accessory shop named “Live Shopping” near Pallabi Metro Station in Dhaka’s Mirpur was closed on Friday afternoon following an altercation between customers and sellers over promotional offer terms.
The incident took place on the fifth floor of the Modern Convention Hall building adjacent to Pallabi Metro Station, where customers had gathered after seeing promotional offers on products at the showroom.
According to police and customers, the showroom used the abbreviation “CA” in small letters under its offers to indicate that terms and conditions applied. Many customers allegedly failed to notice or understand the abbreviation before visiting the showroom to purchase products at the advertised prices.
When sellers informed the customers about the applicable terms and conditions, some became angry and confronted the shopkeepers, leading to an altercation and commotion at the showroom.
Police later went to the scene after receiving the information and spoke to both sides before bringing the situation under control.
The showroom was subsequently closed over allegations that customers had been misled by the promotional offers and the way the applicable terms and conditions were presented.
Meanwhile, Live Shopping claimed that its showroom was looted during the incident.
The company alleged that several people took various products from the showroom. Multiple posts, photos and videos were shared on its Facebook page, “Live Shopping,” seeking help over the alleged looting.
Dhaka Tribune contacted the number provided on the Live Shopping Facebook page for comment but no one answered.
Pallabi police station Officer-in-Charge Hasan Bashir told Dhaka Tribune that the showroom had been selling products under promotional offers while mentioning that terms and conditions applied.
“The establishment adopted a strategy and wrote ‘CA’ in abbreviated form. This escaped the customers’ notice or they could not understand it. After learning about the offer, customers went to the shop and, after learning about the terms and conditions, expressed their anger at the shopkeepers. A commotion broke out. Later, after receiving the information, we went there, spoke to both sides and brought the situation back to normal,” he said.
The OC said the showroom had been temporarily closed and the customers had left.
He said he was not aware of any looting.
“If any customer has been deceived in the incident, they can take legal action,” he said.