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. To fulfil the objectives of this Act, a National Consumer Right Protection Council has been established. A director general of the Consumer Rights Protection Council is appointed to oversee the consumer rights practices throughout the country. To facilitate the functioning of National Consumer Right Protection Council, there shall be a district committee in every district named District Consumer Rights Protection Committee.
Who is a consumer?
According to the law, consumers are those persons who, for themselves or for their dependants, buy or use or obtain permission to use any product or service by offering a price, prompt or due or in instalments. In addition, any person using such products with the consent of the buyer will also be treated as a consumer. But if someone buys something for the purpose of resale or for any other commercial purpose, he or she shall not be considered as a consumer.
Rights of a consumer
Right to obtain commodities or services at a price fixed by the authority or at a reasonable price Right to have safe and pure products Right to have necessary and correct information about products Right to be informed of the qualities or defects (if any) of a particular product Right to know the accurate quantity of the product Right to know the utility, purity, and price of the product Right to have products or services in correct quantity and quality Right to have choice among similar products Right to have protection against activities relating to purchase or sale of products by which life or property may be in danger Right to have access to remedy in relation to violations of consumer rights Right to have protection from concealment of information and unfair trade practices Right to have protection from arbitrarily imposed sale conditions by the sellerComplaining is rewarding
Complaints about any anti-consumer rights practice under this Act have to be filed by any person to the director general or any person so authorised by the directorate within 30 days of the incident.
The authority upon receiving a complaint shall immediately investigate or inquire into such a complaint. If such a complaint is proved to be true after investigation, the director general or any officer authorised by him may, in his administrative action, impose fine upon the guilty person.
If any fine is imposed and realised, 25% of such realised fine shall immediately be paid to the complainant concerned.
If any regular criminal case is filed in a court or in a special tribunal under this Act and if the accused is fined upon found guilty and if the fine is realised, 25% of the realised fine shall be paid to the complainant concerned.
Any person may make complaint by examining the matter of adulteration or copying of goods in a public or private laboratory at his own initiative.