The businesses urged effective market surveillance to protect the interests of consumers and businesses.聽
They also stated that the absence of proper market supervision, along with artificial crises, extortion, and insecurity in the transportation of goods, has affected businesses and consumers.
They were speaking at a multi-stakeholder dialogue on consumer and business protection through market monitoring organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday.
They stated that businesses have also suffered from the complexity of the import process, a lack of storage facilities, distrust among traders and consumers, and a lack of fair competition in the market.
Razeev H Chowdhury, acting president of DCCI, stated that despite the country鈥檚 continuous economic expansion, small and medium enterprises are constantly facing challenges due to price manipulation, artificial crises, low-quality products, complex regulations, and various forms of harassment in the market.
鈥楾hese are also reducing consumers鈥� confidence and ethical businessmen are struggling to survive in the competition,鈥� he added.
He urged the government to formulate and implement an integrated framework for market supervision, along with the creation of an accountable and competitive market monitoring system.
Director general of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Mohammed Alim Akhter Khan, stated that middlemen often drive up the prices of goods in the market, and concerted efforts by government agencies are necessary to control the market.聽
He said that the lack of manpower in DNCRP also hampers the regular operations.
Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation, Md Shahjahan Mia, said that the reputation of ethical businessmen is sometimes hampered due to a small number of dishonest businessmen. Ethical businessmen should come forward to take action against these dishonest businessmen.聽
Md Akhtaruzzaman Talukder, a member of the Bangladesh Competition Commission, stated that fair competition would bring benefits to both businesses and consumers.聽
Professor Mohammad Shoeb, a member of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, urged for strengthening market monitoring activities in a coordinated manner by adopting technology and digital services.聽
Haji Mohammad Golam Mowla, general secretary of the Moulvibazar Traders Association, urged the authority to fix the profit margin at the retail level to prevent excessive profitability.
Haji Abul Hashem, president of the Sugar and Oil Traders Association, urged the government to reopen the closed sugar mills under the government鈥檚 initiative or in collaboration with the private sector to reduce import dependency and create employment.聽
Md Zakir Hossain, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Super Market Owners鈥� Association, proposed setting up an effective monitoring cell with direct coordination between聽the government and private sector representatives.
Officials from government departments and business leaders also spoke at the event.