DNCRP fines Tk12.16 lakh in nationwide drives

The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) fined 82 businesses Tk12.16 lakh on Thursday during nationwide drives against counterfeit and adulterated products and to ensure fair prices and normal supplies of essential commodities. Forty-three teams conducted the simultaneous drives across 28 districts, including Dhaka, targeting wholesale and retail businesses.
In Madhya Badda in the capital, three businesses were fined Tk6 lakh in total for packaging and marketing counterfeit coffee and sauces. Assistant Directors Md Abdul Jabbar Mondal and Indrani Roy of the DNCRP’s Dhaka divisional office led the drive, assisted by members of SRB-1 and Badda Police Station. Doha Corporate, Masum Enterprise and Junaid Enterprise were each fined Tk2 lakh under Section 50 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, for selling products in counterfeit packaging bearing the names “Nascafe Coffee”, “American BBQ Sauce” and “Yellow Mustard Sauce”, the directorate said.
Officials monitored gas cylinder supplies and the prices of essential commodities and checked for overpricing, missing price lists, manipulated weights and measures, expired products and medicines, and counterfeit or adulterated goods.
Traders were instructed to display updated price lists, sell products at prescribed prices, ensure accurate weights and measures, and provide receipts to customers. They were warned against hoarding goods, creating artificial shortages and selling counterfeit, adulterated or expired products. Law enforcement agencies, health inspectors, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and representatives of trade associations assisted the drives.
The directorate urged consumers to avoid unnecessary purchases, check prices, expiry dates and weights, and collect receipts. Complaints can be lodged through the DNCRP hotline at 16121.
The directorate said such drives would continue.