Govt will come down hard to Price manipulators: Tipu

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi today warned that the government will come down hard on manipulators of commodity prices to prevent any artificial crisis in the market.

He said that there is an additional supply of all types of commodities than the demand, so there is no reason to panic.

The minister was addressing a press briefing on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day at the Bangladesh Secretariat, reports UNB.

The government has taken all possible steps to protect the rights of consumers. To ensure this, the National Department of Consumer Protection has launched a hotline service number 16121 titled 'Consumer Window', Tipu said.

“If any consumer's rights are violated, he/she can call this number and lodge a complaint. If the allegation is proved in the investigation, the complainant will get 25 per cent of the fine immediately,” he said.

Replying to a question, the minister asked e-commerce consumers to be more conscious of ordering goods online, he said.

The ministry has initiated to refund the money of e-commerce consumers and gradually all consumers will get their money, he said.

Tapan Kanti Ghosh, senior Commerce Secretary, AHM Shafiquzzaman, Director General (Additional Secretary) Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection, Nur Md. Mahbubul Hoque, additional secretary (FTA), among others, were present at the briefing.