Consumers Association of Bangladesh President Ghulam Rahman speaks to the Dhaka Tribune on the eve of World Consumer Rights Day about the state of consumer rights in Bangladesh. He says the right of the public to the environmental benefits of the Sundarbans, a public good, could be threatened by the Rampal plant construction. The former Energy Regulatory Commission chairman and ACC chairman says the government is not interested to reduce the prices of local petroleum products although citizens have the right to enjoy the benefits of falling prices in the international market. Asif Showkat Kallol and Shohel Mamun interview this former secretary.
Tell us about this year's World Consumer Rights Day theme.
'Antibiotic off the menu’ is the main theme of the World Consumer Rights Day this year. Antibiotics used animal feed, chicken in particular in Bangladesh, comes into the human food chain. Massive use of antibiotics can harm the immune system of people. Nowadays farmers and businessmen use antibiotic medication on livestock and poultry for protection from diseases. If you eat chicken or beef on which antibiotic has been used, the antibiotics will not work in your body. As a result people could die from even the simple ordinary diseases. During last several years the World Heath Organisation has been campaigning against the misuse of antibiotic medication.
Where does the concept of consumer rights come from ?
US President John F Kennedy was the first to talk about consumer right during the '50s. He admitted that consumer rights need to be put in place for the people. Later, UN organisations began working on the issues. Now every country in world works on these issues.
What is the state of consumer rights in Bangladesh ?
The government created a legal and organisational structure in 2009, but it's still in weak condition. You cannot protect consumer rights with only two officials for every district. People do not know that there are laws in place to protect their consumer rights. The first priority of consumer rights is the awareness of consumers.
National Consumer Rights Council is now in the preliminary stage and BSTI only monitors 56 products. As a result traders and businessmen and industries have free rein to use what they want in their products.
Is our right to use energy products at low prices protected?
We have successfully reduced electricity prices in debates with the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission. When I was the chairman of BERC the price of electricity was reduced once when the Awami League government came to power for the first time. Now the government does not comply with its own law. Issues of petroleum product prices is yet to go to BERC. People might get some relief from the BERC public hearings. But the government does not want the hearings to happen. The government does not want to reduce the price of electricity either.
The price of petroleum should be kept at a rational level. Octane price is now Tk99 per litre but it should be Tk60 and the government can still make profit. The government will form a price stabilization fund for the benefit of local consumers. The fund will be used when the price of petroleum increases in the international market. The local price of petroleum should be reviewed every two or three years. It is not rational that people cannot get the benefit of reduced prices of petroleum products in the international market.
We have began a campaign to ask the government to fix the prices of water and sanitation services in public hearings. These are also public goods. Price of public goods should fixed by an independent body with people's opinion.
What is the state of our financial services?
The newly formed Bangladesh Bank Financial Integrity and Customer Service Department is now looking into matters like customer service. I was a victim of poor banking service once. My fixed deposit account turned into a loan account because of of a bank official's mistake. Then the bank wanted to charge me Tk1,150 to fix the error.
Is it not the right of consumers to enjoy the environmental and ecological benefits from the Sundardans?
Consumer rights covers vast areas now. Our right to receive environmental and ecological benefits from the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, is now a big issue. The government wants to construct a big power plant in Rampal. It is saying new technologies will be used in the construction. Possible damage to the Sundarbans could be irreparable. The people will not forgive the government if the ecological balance of the Sundarbans is destroyed in the construction of the power plant.
Are the existing consumer rights laws being equally enforced over local firms and multinational companies?
BSTI should be very vigilant regarding the violation of consumer rights by local firms and multinational companies alike because sometimes they sell bad quality products to the local consumers. BSTI testing of local and foreign consumer products should be expanded.
