What to do if you are cheated at DITF?

There was a time when people were victimized by the food stalls at the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) with higher prices of foods, and they could do nothing. In earlier editions of the month-long shopping extravaganza, social media had been flooded with stories of food stalls cheating customers by charging unfair high prices. Media had also reported on clashes between consumers and stall owners that arose over the issues. But with time, the situation has changed and improved for the better thanks to constant efforts by consumer rights protection authorities. If you feel like owners of food stalls or any other products are cheating you, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) is present at the DITF venue to protect your rights. All you need to know is firstly your rights, and if you feel you have been victimized, please visit the DNCRP stall, make a written complaint with receipt of the products or services associated with it. If allegations are proven, immediate action will be taken, and the complainant will get due share of the penalties. Consumers had made eight complaints on the first 12 days, mostly against food stalls. After investigation, the authorities slapped fines of Tk50,000 to seven stalls for violating consumer rights, while the eighth allegation could not be proven. Most of these complaints were filed under section 40 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009 that stipulates upto Tk50,000 fine or a year in jail if product or services are charged unfair prices. The authorities, with their own initiative, conducted drives at different stalls and realized Tk73,000 in fines from 11 organizations, data shows. DNCRP authorities said they are here to serve people so that consumers can receive quality product and services from the month-long fair. Md Ziaul Haq on January 4 made a complaint against Abul Hotel for charging him Tk2 more for bottle of water. As the allegation was found to be true, the authorities fined the stall Tk2,000, and Ziaul received Tk500 as his share. The law allows the complainant to receive 25% of the total amount fined against companies if allegations are proven. When asked, an owner of Abul Hotel, Shaduzzaman Shishir, however claimed that they took the extra Tk2 as there were no change, and the consumer wrongly complained against them. Surprisingly, government stalls were also found in the list of DNCRP for violating consumer rights. A consumer complained against Malancha food stall, a stall run by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation under Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, for charging higher than regular prices on bottled water. As the allegation was found to be true, they were fined Tk10,000. When asked, an official deployed at Malancha stall not authorized to make comments, said there was a problem in the network server on the first two days of the fair that had led to the situation, but the problem has since then been solved. “We are not charging higher prices anymore,” he said. The DNCRP’s self-initiated drive fined popular sweets shop Mithai Tk20,000 as the stall sold sweets without their own packaging, which is a must under the Act. A territory sales manager at Mithai Shohidul Islam said: “We have our own packaging, but we did not think we needed to sell all products using them. But now we are selling products only using our packaging.” Dhaka Tribune found several notice boards installing price list of the food products at the fair venue for public awareness. DNCRP officials deployed at the fair said they have received fewer complaints than the previous year because of constant monitoring and surveillance. “Ninety-percent of the complaints are against food stalls, mostly for charging higher prices on water bottles from the price set by the Export Promotion Bureau. But we are continuing with the monitoring drives every morning and evening, in addition to consumer complaints so that people cannot be cheated,” DNCRP’s Dhaka Divisional Office Deputy Director Manzurul Mohammad Shahriar told the Dhaka Tribune. The core idea of the concept is just to fine, rather improve services and behaviour as well, he added. “We are also doing motivational sessions with stall owners on how to behave with consumers to ensure consumer satisfaction” he said.