Traders will be warned first, then fined for repeated offences: State minister

State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu has instructed the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to issue warning notices to traders for initial wrongdoings and impose fines for repeated offences.

To reinforce ethical conduct and accountability among traders in marketplaces, the state minister gave this instruction in a meeting with traders at the Mohammadpur Krishi Market on Thursday.

In the meeting, organised by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, the state minister also said no trader in Mohammadpur would be harassed by the administration without valid cause.

He instructed the officials from the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to "ensure the presence of the market's president or secretary" during market inspections.

"In the event of any misconduct by a trader or shopkeeper, issue a warning notice for the initial offence. However, for a repetition of the same offence, impose a fine.

"The absence of a penalty may lead to unruly behaviour, but fines should only be applied upon a second occurrence, with no penalties for the first instance," said Ahsanul Islam Titu.

He advised traders to consistently retain receipts for both purchases and sales, as the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection will actively verify them. Any issues can be avoided if the purchase and sales prices are consistent.

Those engaging in hoarding practices, causing hardship for the public, will be held responsible. Such individuals are not traders but rather opportunists, the state minister said.

Md Shahidullah, president of the Mohammadpur Traders Association, accused major corporations of disrupting the rice market and urged the state minister to address the issue by taking appropriate action against them.

In response, the state minister for commerce said, "We will investigate the issue. If any party aims to monopolise the market, the Competition Commission will address such concerns. Should we identify any syndicate attempting to control the market, we will take appropriate action against them. If necessary, business entities will be allocated a specific quota to conduct their operations."

Regardless of the size of the corporate entity, adherence to the rules is imperative when engaging in business with essential products, he said.

Prior to attending the meeting, during the inauguration of TCB's January product sale, the state minister for commerce said the government is committed to offering comprehensive support to those conducting honest business. Stern measures will be taken without hesitation against individuals engaging in illegal hoarding.