Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) and the media can jointly play an important role in building a fair and competitive business environment and ensuring fair business practices in the country.
The BCC is working to ensure fair competition by preventing anti-competitive behavior of business houses, traders such as monopolistic market arrangements or cartels, which are torpedoing the countrys drive toward sustainable economic growth or forcing consumers to pay exorbitant prices.
Pradip Ranjan Chakraborty, Chairperson of the BCC said this while speaking as chief guest at a seminar on Implementation of BCC Act and Role of Media to Establish a Fair Competition in the Market, held at the Auditorium of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) on Saturday. The BCC and ERF jointly organized the event.
The BCC Chairperson said the commissions efforts in efficiently promoting a fair competitive market and protecting consumers are dependent on a strong role of institutions.
"To maintain a fair competitive environment in business, the Commission has strengthened the market monitoring system and properly conducting investigation into cases filed by stakeholders for anti-competitive activities," Pradip Ranjan said.
Md. Hafizur Rahman, a member of BCC in a presentation, highlighted the implementation of The Competition Act 2012. He said BCC has filed 97 cases so far, of which 51 cases were disposed of through fines and punishment.
Besides, the commission issued 74 Sue Moto cases observing abusing the Commission Act by different companies, he said.
He emphasized that consumer will get the best product at a competitive price if The Competition Act is fully implemented. ERF president Refayet Ullah Mirdha presided over the meeting.
The BCC members Sowdagar Mustafizur Rahman and Salma Akhter Jahan, senior journalists Abdul Hannan, SM Jahangir, Salauddin Bablu also spoke in the programme.
ERF assistant general secretary Mizanur Rahman moderated the event.
