The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has intensified market monitoring across the country since early October, following Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir's announcement of year-round surveillance to curb abnormal price hikes, artificial shortages and excessive profiteering in the market for essential commodities.
According to campaign reports published by the directorate, 1,170 businesses had been fined as of today (25 October). The businesses were collectively fined Tk1.09 crore, said the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Commerce.
In addition to fines, the authorities have taken measures such as destroying adulterated food, seizing products, sealing business establishments and imposing prison sentences.
Following Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir's 21 September announcement of year-round market monitoring, the DNCRP intensified nationwide surveillance drives from early October.
The enforcement drives have targeted various irregularities, including adulterated milk, counterfeit products and hoarding.
The Ministry of Commerce said the market monitoring drives are primarily focusing on essential commodities, including edible oil, rice, lentils, onions, ginger, garlic, eggs, fruits, spices and LPG cylinders.
Inspections are being conducted at wholesale and retail markets, warehouses, hotels and restaurants, edible oil shops and gas cylinder sales outlets. Officials are checking whether businesses display price lists, maintain purchase and sales receipts, use accurate weights and measures, sell products at prescribed prices and ensure normal supply. The drives are also focusing on hoarding and attempts to create artificial shortages.
According to the ministry's Public Relations Department, an inspection at a warehouse in Khatunganj, Chattogram, on 15 October uncovered a stock pile of 160–170 tonne of cardamom.
One business had sold only half a tonne of cardamom out of 15 tonne stockpiled over nearly 11 months. Another business produced receipts showing the sale of 30 tonne of cardamom but had not delivered the goods.
Hossain Corporation was fined Tk50,000 for hoarding commodities in an attempt to create an artificial shortage and drive up prices.
Arafat Trading was fined another Tk40,000 after inspectors found that the original sacks of imported cumin lacked manufacturing and expiry dates.
The market monitoring drives have also targeted food adulteration and threats to public health.
On 10 October, inspectors found two businesses in Faridpur, Pabna, producing adulterated milk by mixing hydrogen peroxide, jelly and edible oil into milk. The two businesses were fined a total of Tk1 lakh, one establishment was temporarily sealed, and an individual was sentenced to 15 days in prison.
On 19 October, authorities destroyed bananas ripened using chemicals and around 204 litres of soybean oil stored in drums previously used for urea-formaldehyde. On 5 October, they also destroyed around 20kg of fish mixed with artificial colouring at Karwan Bazar.
On 14 October, a bakery and a pharmacy were fined for making cakes with expired food colouring and selling expired medicines, respectively.
On 8 October, three businesses in Madhya Badda, Dhaka, were fined a total of Tk6 lakh for producing and marketing coffee and sauce using counterfeit packaging.
Monitoring of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder sales is also underway. Inspectors have detected several irregularities, including charging prices above the prescribed rates, failing to maintain purchase and sales receipts, not displaying price lists, and manipulating cylinder weights by transferring gas through specialised pipes. Equipment used for such manipulation, along with seals and stickers, has been seized during the drives.
The Ministry of Commerce said the operations would continue to ensure fair prices and normal market supply, curb unjustified price hikes and prevent the sale of adulterated products.
Consumers have been advised against buying more products than they need, checking displayed price lists and expiry dates, and collecting receipts for their purchases.
Consumers who encounter irregularities or fall victim to fraud have been urged to lodge complaints with the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection through its hotline at 16121.