The High Court (HC) in a verdict declared open the import and marketing of Unilever products by anyone apart from Unilever Bangladesh, where the government has more than one-third stake.
A bench of the HC comprising Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Md Shohrowardi delivered the verdict on Tuesday after hearing a rule.
The rule issued earlier asked the respondents to explain as to why they should not be directed not to allow import and marketing of branded goods of Unilever here by anyone other than Unilever Bangladesh.
Deputy attorney general barrister Kazi Maynul Hassan said importers and anyone can import and market Unilever products from abroad from now on.
The monopoly business of Unilever Bangladesh ends following the judgment, he added.
This ruling will create a competitive market system on these products, he maintained.
The multinational company that had started its operation here with soap products in 1964 under the name Lever Brothers changed the name to Unilever Bangladesh.
It now has 28 brands of ten categories and the market leaders in nine.
On October 7, 2010, Unilever Bangladesh filed a writ petition with the HC to issue a rule upon the respondents to show cause as to why the respondents should not be directed not to allow import of Unilever products by anyone other than the petitioner.
The products are Vaseline, Knorr, Dove, Pepsodent toothbrush, Close up Milk Calcium Nutrient and empty branded packing materials such as bottles, tubes, containers, wrappers, packets and labels.
It also prayed to the court to issue a rule as to why the respondents should not be directed not to allow opening letters of credit by any importer to bring in Unilever products.
National Board of Revenue chairman, customs commissioners of Kurmitola, Chittagong, Kamalapur, Jashore and Khulna, Agrani Bank and others were made respondents in the petition.
Upon hearing the petition, an HC bench issued the rule that year.
A larger bench of the higher court finally heard the rule on Tuesday and delivered the verdict.
