Consumer rights body to get more manpower, digital push: Commerce minister

The Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection (DNCRP) will be strengthened in terms of technology, manpower and institutional capacity to ensure people's right to safe, pure and quality products, Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said today (17 September).

Muktadir was speaking as chief guest at a views exchange meeting with officials at the DNCRP conference room.

The minister said ensuring that no one is forced to buy adulterated, substandard or harmful products with their hard-earned money is an important responsibility of the state, adding that the department has a crucial role in protecting the consumer rights of the country's 170-180 million people.

He also said training, manpower expansion, and greater use of modern equipment and technology would be undertaken to make the department more modern and effective. "Existing services will also be gradually brought onto digital platforms."

The size or reputation of an institution matters less than the real impact of its work on people's lives, the minister said, noting that the DNCRP's work carries significant importance in that regard.

To draw on international experience, the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) will be engaged to conduct research on the structure, manpower and service activities of consumer rights protection organisations in various countries, Muktadir said.

He noted the department's activities would be further expanded and made more people-friendly in light of the research recommendations, adding that a number of new initiatives would be taken soon to make DNCRP's services more accessible and effective for consumers.

The meeting discussed the department's ongoing activities, use of technology, manpower structure, future plans, and ways to make consumer services simpler and more effective.