Establishing consumer-right in Bangladesh is really a challenging task for public servants assigned or engaged to do so. Some common patterns or types of the challenges to be named among are overpricing, hoarding, adulteration, fake and counterfeit products, and many more alike. The gravity and size of the challenges are not insubstantial neither those to be ignorable for greater public interest, those are found almost everywhere from tiny to large items, practiced by small traders to corporate producers. Types and patterns are multiple as well and multidirectional. But above all governance failure amidst bureaucracy are the center of all challenges.

Public servants or the team work in the markets usually encounter the traders involved with all above  challenges  with almost all commodities  including food items , drugs and medicines. Healthcare services or drugs provided usually are also found substandard creating potential threat to human life and health. 

Whole the market seems playing blame-games, retailers always blame the wholesalers for the mishaps, wholesalers blame the agents or dealer the same way and thus the rope of blame ultimately climb to the peak signifying the problem a network of nexus. Practically items involved in the processes are boundless worrying the society, more importantly nurtured by political or social influentials.

Similarly most of the food items of the restaurants or in the food shops are found commonly substandard or adulterated. The issue is really complex and alarming as most of the persons engaged in the process are unaware and untrained about food safety and the owners always remain reluctant alike.  Moreover, this serious problem is seen with a very callous attitude by all concerned though it is awfully hazardous for human life or health.

 Another most worrying matter is abundance of fake or counterfeit items those flood the markets. This misdeed further creates multiple problems altogether, it threats the genuine producers or importers, cheats the consumers with price and quality, and bypasses the authority entrusted with the power of revenue collection.

The scenario is wide and deep in the society  bringing consumers helpless, transforming the state into an ineffective entity. Citizen consider themselves alien in this situation, feel discouraged to involve in productivity and usually contribute less compare to their capability.

Recent incidence of ghostlike appearance of few South America bound oil vassals in our mid sea within a day just after review of prices of oils on the reasons of price-hike and price of US$ in the international market does not signal an encouraging ethical practice by the community. Hence, ethical question, responsibility and commitment of concerned community come to the fore. Establishing corporate ethics in business arena is a major challenge therefore. The country ultimately needs strong ethical leaders and proper political culture for a better future in all respect. Decadence in public sector governance needs more and significant attention to reverse the system.

No doubt greed acts as the main divers of these malpractices and this is absolutely a result of an unethical practice prevailing almost everywhere in the society nurtured by corrupt politicians from the top, created through malpractices within government. State of governance at the heart of delivering quality public services and a misgoverned country never produces good public service at all. Poor and weak public servant would never be believed to be saucerful in protecting consumers' right. Interference in delivering public services is bound to impact the quality. In this context transparency and accountability is a challenge in public service delivery.

Among others strong capability, neutrality, sense of professionalism might ensure quality public service delivery. But it needs a parallel political leadership and culture. Public servants need to establish rule of law in their day-to-day activities. Ensuring rule of law by public servants working in uncongenial environment is tougher and if challenges are wide and deep public servants feel themselves helpless.

Moreover, ethical value of a society cannot be separated from the very political culture as well. Politicians are the principal weaver of the fabric of any society in particular. If the greedy and notorious communities find the political climate an opportunity they naturally use that  and take the benefit in return. Nexus of political leaders with ill communities brings the climate into a rent-seeking field  by all means to satisfy their greed and turns the society into their prey  frustrating  citizens.

Certainly, public departments to ensure consumers' right need to fight more in this ill situation. Only a society woven with strong ethical fabric could change the scenario. Political climate created with strong ethical value and with commitment could only save the consumers'-right.

Inertia and reluctant attitude of public servants in our country towards the commoners is created for many reasons; improper training, wrong attitude, corrupt mind, non-professional practices etc. built by the wrong guidance from the political masters might essentially be the root cause. It breeds not only reluctance or inertia in public servants; rather it produces trends of misuse of power, arbitrariness, and discriminatory attitude among public servant. Democracy never allows such anti-people attitude of public servants. In recent past Bangladesh experienced a bloody and cruel change of power hanged over due to nexus of vested politicians, business tycoons and ill public servants. The change carries a new message to all concreted, politicians and to public servants, to ensure democracy in every sphere of their task or otherwise face the consequence. Thus, public servants now must change themselves in their practice and attitude. They must resist themselves from ill political culture for greater interest of the citizen i.e the owner of the republic.

In recent past it was experienced further that confusion among public servants in times of crisis creates frustration concerning assurance and enforcement of law regarding consumers` rights. Incidents of insensitivity in public servants were seen common creating distrust and sufferings more. Public servants, as a custodian of public goods and resources, must not fail to address properly in times of need. Above all citizen are the owner  of the republic. But incidentally  in previous time they were compelled to ignore the constitutional guarantee of ownership of the republic.

Unfortunately, Bangladesh lost a valuable period of more than five decades, thus  further decay might be a crime. Every body should feel that  a new and bright future is waiting to be built; all young bloods need to be aligned with the march. Attempt to protect consumers'-rights among many public demands requires commitment as well as proper attention. Proper response to public demands  is a must for a better world.

Consumers or citizen in greater perspective saw a serious damages in the past regarding ethical values and commitment as well which needs to be replaced immediately with a positive one. For last few decades nation saw most of its leaders corrupt, biased, bowed to greed or ill practices, remain uncommitted to welfare of the society, rather they were encouraged with all irregularities and odds either. It may seem tough to reverse the scenario but it is necessary, or otherwise the challenge will remain same.

The country thus expects its leaders feel the reality soon, change themselves and come forward with a positive vision to bring about a change. Citizen may hope a bright and sunny morning ahead is waiting. The society is prepared to embrace a brighter future. Certainly dawn of a new political culture will be replaced by citizen for betterment of the society and of in particular.

All needs good governance.

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Author: Mohammed Alim Akhter Khan

Director General

Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection