Consumers Association of Bangladesh

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) a non-government and non-profit organisation, established in 1978 at the initiative of a group of Dhakaits imbued with the idea of consumerism, a movement that already took shape in Europe and America. Since its inception, CAB has been trying to spread the essence of consumerism among poor and low-middle class consumers have attempted to organise activities for the promotion and protection of the rights and interests of the consumers. The major objectives of CAB are to: a) make consumers aware of their rights and responsibilities; b) promote consumer education, aiming at raising awareness of consumers against exploitation, and providing them with technical knowledge and support for real protection; c) focus on consumers'; problems and develop a spirit of mutual co-operation and understanding among different groups, associations, institutions, NGOs and government agencies functioning in the interests of the welfare of the people; d) exchange information and knowledge of various actions about consumer protection with national and international organisations; e) organise and set-up consumers associations and groups at the districts and thana level; and f) undertake research studies on consumer issues and problems.

CAB activities in consumer education include mainly the publication of a monthly bulletin in Bangla titled Consumers'; Voice to provide consumers with information of various consumer issues and problem. CAB also publishes a quarterly bulletin in English, which it distributes to different organisations at home and abroad. In addition, it occasionally publishes pamphlets, folders, and leaflets on various consumer issues and problems and regularly prepares features and press releases for dissemination through the mass media.

CAB regularly monitors the market prices of essential commodities and services to show the actual price situation in the market and keep prices within the purchasing power of general consumers. It runs a market monitoring cell, which regularly conducts market surveys and supplies relevant information to consumers through national dailies. CAB launched a 'Dirty Dozen Campaign'; against 12 most harmful pesticides. Earlier, there were no guidelines on the marketing of pesticides and it is because of the pressure created by CAB that the government had to formulate guidelines on the marketing of pesticides and publish them through a gazette notification. CAB also carried out studies on household insecticides and labeling of pesticides on packets. 

The organisation was very vocal and active in creating demand for formulating a National Drug Policy (NDP) and played an active role in the process of enactment of the NDP in 1982. Since then, CAB has been regularly monitoring the implementation of NDP and organising promotional activities, especially relating to issues of inadequacy and poor services in the delivery of public health care. CAB started an anti-tobacco campaign in 1981. CAB is active in lobbying with the government for banning smoking in selected public places. CAB is also monitoring the implementation of the Breast Milk Substitute Ordinance enacted in 1984. CAB carries out campaigns in support of breastfeeding.

CAB activities include organisation of seminars, workshops, and group meetings, street processions, distribution of posters and leaflets, and publication of features in newspapers on environmental pollution and degradation as well as on safe road and transport systems. A routine activity of CAB is the formation and development of consumer for expansion of consumer movement at the division, district, thana and peripheral levels. These groups keep liaison with the national level and deal with consumer education and motivation and handle local consumer problems and issues.

CAB runs a Complaint Centre to receive complaints from consumers and extends technical and legal support to them for redress. With a view to keeping the consumers informed about the daily market situation and other consumer issues and problems CAB runs a Consumer Information Centre, which has a small library attached to it. It conducts studies on important consumer issues such as commodity prices, use of BMS in hospitals and clinics, tobacco consumption, road accidents, violation of BMS ordinance, drug abuse and the like. It has been looking for the formulation of consumer protection laws in the country for a long time.

CAB now concentrates its activities in the districts of dhaka, chittagong, sylhet, mymensingh, gazipur, manikganj, bogra, khulna and barisal but has plans to expand the activities in other districts of the country, too. Some of the achievements of CAB are as follows: a) The Milk Vita Company used to mix imported powder milk with cows milk and then market it as the cows milk. CAB exposed this malpractice, following which the company had to change its policy; 

b) CAB created considerable awareness among the people about harmful and unnecessary drugs long before the enactment of the National Drug Policy, which after being formulated, was popularised by CAB through a vigorous campaign; c) Since 1984, CAB has been conducting campaigns for the promotion and protection of breast feeding and has been an advocate for enactment and implementation of Bangladesh Breast Feeding Substitutes (marketing regulation) Ordinance, 1984; d) CAB was instrumental in the declaration of the Code of Pesticide Marketing and assisted in the creation of a committee to evaluate price situation, in the re-organisation of the Bangladesh Standard Institute and publication of lists for standard certificates, and in creation of a committee to assess the adulteration position in edible oils; e) CAB was instrumental in the re-organisation of the government';s Environmental Pollution Control Department; f) The anti-tobacco campaign by CAB resulted in the introduction of warning against hazardous effects of smoking in cigarette advertisements; and g) CAB has been recognised as representative of consumers in numerous committees (both government and non-government) formed on different issues and subjects.

CAB, however, faces a number of constraints such as inadequacy of funds, and a relatively slow response from communities and population groups that prevent consumer movement from gaining a solid ground, and a general weakness of consumers in terms of their awareness level and bargaining strength in purchases. CAB';s success, therefore, remains minimal as their programmes often go against the interest of the business community, who enjoys near monopoly and has the opportunity to organise syndicated trade. [Syed Rashidul Hasan] [Hasan, Syed Rashidul  Professor of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Dhaka University]