Dr. Mohammed Mahtab Hossain Mazed

Consumer Rights Day 2025 is being celebrated around the world on Saturday 15th March. Every citizen of the state is a consumer. As a consumer, he has 'consumer rights'. The first step in preserving this right is to increase public awareness. But because that awareness is not created, consumers are deprived of their rights.

1962 On 15 March , former US President John F. Kennedy spoke to the Congress to protect the interests of the consumer. He focuses on four consumer rights. These are the rights of security, the right to information, the right of choice and the right to complain. In the 1985th, the United Nations expanded the four fundamental rights described by the United Nations, connecting eight more basic rights. To keep the day of Kennedy's speech memorable, the day is celebrated as World Consumer Rights Day. We are all familiar with the word 'consumer'. Consumer English word- Consumer which means consuming. That is, when someone receives a product or service, that is, those who enjoy it are called consumer. Under consumer rights conservation-2009 in the country, the consumer is-'He is the one who pays full price or purchases goods or services in the rest of the rest or buy products or services in installments'. People from all walks of society are somehow a consumer.

Again, many say that the rights and privileges of the lives and livelihoods of the people are recognized by the state and the United Nations- they are covered by consumer rights.

Among the UN-recognized consumer rights, the right to meet the basic needs of food, clothing, education, medical and housing, the right to get safe products and services, product elements, usage, side effects, etc., the right to check the right product and service at a fair price, any productThe right to compensate if the service is harmed, the right to complain and representing, the right to education as a consumer as a consumer, the right to work in a healthy environment and living in a healthy environmentHowever, in addition to the rights, some duties and duties are said, but we are not ignorant in these matters. The issues are- be aware of the quality and quality of the product or service, ask the right product by bargaining, be aware that the other buyer is not harmed in your behaviorTherefore, in Bangladesh, the government enacted the consumer rights protection law to protect the interests of the consumer and to prevent anti-consumer rights. The National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate was established to implement this law. Since its inception, the department has been playing an important role in protecting consumer interestsIn a country, the state ensures some rights to survive citizens, which are called civil rights. And one of these civil rights is consumer rights.

A citizen needs various facilities to survive. Some of it is provided by the family, the state does something. However, consumer rights are somewhat different from other rights.

The person who purchases the products and services produced for the final enjoyment, is called consumer in economics. Simply put, the person who purchases a product is only to enjoy itself; He is the consumer.

When a person purchases a product, he has the right to know when the product has been produced, where it is produced and its raw material, what is the price and so on.

A seller is obliged to answer these questions. If a seller does not answer these questions or expresses inability to pay, then according to the law, consumer rights are damaged. UN recognized consumer rights are 8.

These are the right to meet basic needs, the right to get information, the right to get safe goods or services, the right to know, the right to know, the right to complain and remedy, the right to education on consumer rights and responsibilities, the right to a healthy environment.

Currently online shopping has gained popularity. But the quality of the product on the website is mentioned, after paying the price, the product is seen in hand- the quality described is not in that product.

So the consumer needs to know about the law and the complaint has to be filed in the prescribed way. Only then will the violence of unscrupulous traders decrease and the number of consumers being cheated will also decreaseAnd there are a total of 82 sections in the Consumer Rights Act made in 2009 years. There are also subsection of a few sections. I want to highlight some of the important issues of the Consumer Rights Act. If the product is not wrapped under section 37 or the information of the product in the wrap, the seller may be sentenced to a maximum of 1 years imprisonment or a fine of Tk 50,000 or both.

Under section 37 the price of the product is not easily visible in any place, there is a provision to be sentenced to 1 years imprisonment or fine of Tk 50,000 or both. In section 39 it is mentioned that the seller can be sentenced to a maximum of 1 years imprisonment or a fine of Tk 50,000 or both if it is not easily visible in the visible place.

According to Article 40 selling products, services or drugs at a higher price of the price is imposed at a maximum of 1 years imprisonment or a fine of Tk 50,000 or both.

According to Article 41 if selling adulterated products or drugs, the seller may be sentenced to a maximum of 3 years imprisonment or a fine of Tk 2 lakh or both. According to Article 42, the seller can be sentenced to a maximum of 3 years imprisonment or a fine of Tk 2 lakh or both penalties if they sell any harmful products in the food.

In section 43 the seller can be sentenced to a maximum of 2 years imprisonment or a fine of Tk 1 lakh or both penalties if selling illegal products that are harmful to life or health.

In section 44, it is mentioned that cheating with the buyer with false advertisement of the product can be sentenced to a maximum of 1 years or a fine of Tk 2 lakh or both.

The method of filing a complaint is very easy if the product is cheated. Currently everyone has a smartphone in hand. The 'Consumer Rights and Complaint' apps stored in the Google Play Store can easily be filed with the necessary information. Before the Act of 2009, at least 40 laws and clauses were related to consumer rights separately. All relevant issues are made together through the Act of 2009

One of the few other notable laws on consumer rights is BSTI Ordinance 1985, Essential Products Act 1956, Safe Food Act 1959, Product Sales Act 1930, Weight and Measurement Act 1982 and Eleration Board Act 2006. All laws are mentioned in consumer rights There are consumer rights protection laws in different countries of the world. They have long been benefiting from the implementation of such laws. The state also takes various steps to raise awareness about the consumer rights of the citizens. As a result of an effective consumer law, the public interest and consumer rights in those countries today are a foundation.

It is the responsibility of the state to establish fairness for business and consumer rights. We purchase adulterated products and services with prices. Citizens do not protest. The state is also foolish. But in other countries, consumer rights cannot be considered in violation.

In violation of consumer rights, in many countries the seller's license is canceled. Only the rules, there is also a criminal bar. So the implementation of the law is a big deal.

The first step in protecting consumer rights in any country is to increase public awareness. But there was no awareness among us, that is, consumers. As a result, consumers are being deprived of their rights.

False, adulterated, formalin today is mixed with consumerism. Even cows are being fattened with drugs. The vegetables in the market, the fruit-root are formalin in everything.

After the enactment of the law, the implementation of this law is progressing through the market monitoring and allegations of the department, district and important commercial areas. For this purpose, there are occasional news in the media. It can be partially considered as an institutional step to implement this law. But this law has to be delivered to the people of the people. Everyone has to be aware.

Finally, in the current context, the price of goods is an important issue. We have to hunt that the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate is one of the many institutions in Bangladesh. Although their manpower is very low, they are a little different from other government institutions in Bangladesh on the question of transparency and accountability. Hopefully they will keep their transparency and accountability and will be involved in the welfare of the peopleSo be aware and active in maintaining the balance of the environment, be aware and organized to protect the rights as a consumer.

The writer is a, organizer, columnist Founding Chairman, Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society.