DHAKA, March 15, 2023 (BSS) - Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi today urged the businessmen to pursue self-restraint in running their businesses during the ensuing holy month of Ramadan.

"Please do take whatever will be the just price. We won't be able to guard throughout the day. I'm leaving the matter before you," he said.

The Commerce Minister said this while addressing a function marking the World Consumer Rights Day 2023 as the chief guest held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).

Organized by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Tipu urged the businessmen at the function not to resort to anything which would cause sufferings to the consumers.

"You have some humanitarian responsibility. We want sensible businessmen. Businessmen across the globe tend to give some concessions to the consumers during festivals. But, our county is an exception to this," he added.

The Commerce Minister also requested the businessmen not to make access buying or panic buying, rather to pursue a bit austerity.

Regarding the operations of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) during the holy month of Ramadan, he said that the TCB would now provide commodities like edible oil, sugar, lentil, chickpeas twice instead of the one time in a month.

Such essential items would be distributed to one crore families which would facilitate some five crore people.

Urging the consumers to become more aware about their rights, he said if the consumers would become more aware then the businessmen would not be able to avail any undue facility.

This will also reduce the pressure on the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.

Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President Golam Rahman suggested the government to increase the manpower of the concerned organization's agencies to protect the rights of the consumers.

FBCCI Senior Vice President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu said that the country's apex trade body is working to keep stable the market in line with the efforts of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.

The chief guest and other guests at the function distributed prizes among the winners of the essay competition schools, colleges, university students and media personnel.

The Commerce Minister at the function formally inaugurated the Consumer Complain Management System (CCMS) to resolve the complaints of the consumers.

The consumers would be able to lodge their complaints online with the system through using this platform. The complainants would be to know about the steps taken against their complaints.

Later, the Commerce Minister unveiled the cover of a souvenir titled 'Consumers Portal 2023' at the function.

Presided over the Senior Secretary of the Commerce Ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection AHM Shafiquzzaman spoke on the occasion.

The theme of the World Consumer Rights Day is "Safe Energy and Consumer Friendly World".