Published: 10:13 AM, 15 March 2026 Last Update: 10:28 AM, 15 March 2026
World Consumer Rights Day: Let's Learn About Our Rights and Demand Justice
Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain
The global awakening of the consumer movement has a historical context. On March 15, 1962, the then US President John F. Kennedy delivered a groundbreaking speech on consumer rights to the US Congress for the first time, which is immortalized as the first state recognition of this issue in history. Kennedy said, "Consumers are all of us; they are the largest group in the economy, yet their voices are the least heard." Kennedy's four fundamental rights—the right to safety, the right to information, the right to vote, and the right to complain—have become the cornerstone of today's global consumer movement. Later, since 1983, 'Consumers International' has officially started observing this day as World Consumer Rights Day.
The theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2026 is ‘Safe Products, Confident Consumers’. This theme is very relevant in the context of the current global market, because if the quality and safety of products are not ensured, consumer confidence cannot be built. The main goal of this global campaign in 2026 is to build a bridge of trust between regulatory agencies, traders and consumers, which will be helpful on the path to sustainable development.
Today, consumers around the world are being deceived in various ways, which is an extreme example of the misuse of ethics and science. Just as the protection of personal information online is being disrupted in developed countries, the outbreak of adulterated food and counterfeit medicines in developing countries is putting public health at extreme risk. In Europe and America, subtle manipulations are often made regarding the expiration date of products, while in Asia, cases of underweighting or artificial crisis creation are frequent and price increases are frequent. Providing low-quality products through false advertising on digital platforms has become an epidemic worldwide. In many cases, multinational companies are releasing products that harm the environment into the market, which is indirectly taking away the right of consumers to a livable world. This web of fraud is so widespread around the world that if not aware, a buyer can become destitute at any moment.
If we review the history of the consumer rights movement in Bangladesh, we see that it took a long time for this awareness to become institutionalized in this country. Although there have been various laws in isolation since independence, a new horizon was opened in protecting the rights of the common people of this country with the passage of the 'Consumer Rights Protection Act' in 2009. Under this act, the 'National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate' was established, which is currently working like a vigilant watchman to restore order in the country's market. The main objective of observing the day in Bangladesh is to inform the common people at the grassroots level about their legal rights and to give a warning message to unscrupulous traders.
On the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day 2026, programs have been taken at the national level in Bangladesh, which will help in increasing public awareness. Colorful rallies, seminars and discussion meetings have been organized in the capital, district and upazila levels, where government officials as well as prominent citizens are present. Quizzes and essay competitions on consumer rights have been organized among school and college students so that the future generation grows up aware. In addition, special campaigns of mobile courts are being conducted in important markets and the general public is being informed in detail about the complaint process through distribution of leaflets. Strong initiatives have been taken to convey the significance of the day to the public by publishing special supplements on various television channels and newspapers.
In the context of Bangladesh, consumers are constantly being subjected to multi-dimensional fraud, which is very painful to describe. Unscrupulous traders are mixing harmful chemicals and adulteration in daily necessities like rice, pulses and edible oil in the hope of more profit, which is acting as a slow poison. Sometimes, underweighting of packaged products or charging more than the price written on the package has become a daily occurrence in this country. In the medical field, people's lives are being endangered due to fake and low-quality medicines. In the e-commerce sector, not providing products by taking advance money or showing huge discrepancies between the picture and the actual product has now become a common fraud. Increasing the prices of products by creating artificial crises through syndicates is increasing the distress of the middle and lower classes.
A proper analysis of consumer rights shows that eight fundamental rights have been given priority under the law in our country. First, the right to protection from products or services that pose a threat to life and health, i.e. the right to safety, is an integral part of us. Secondly, there is the right to know accurate information about the quality, quantity, purity and price of the product, which helps a buyer to make a decision. Third, the right to choose quality products at fair prices in a competitive market is one of the consumer's demands. There is also the right to a hearing, where a dissatisfied consumer can present his complaint and the right to a remedy that ensures financial or legal compensation. The right to basic needs, the right to education and the right to a healthy environment are also included in consumer rights.
Poet Guru Rabindranath Tagore said in his poem, "Whoever does injustice and whoever tolerates injustice / Let hatred burn at its grass." As a conscious consumer, it is our moral responsibility to speak out against injustice. When we buy any product, we should carefully check the list of ingredients, expiration date and retail price on the product. If we see any discrepancy or are cheated, we should not accept it silently and file a written complaint with the nearest Department of Consumer Rights Protection. Only collective protest and awareness can bring back morality in the market system.
From the perspective of science, protecting consumer rights is not only a legal matter, but it is also closely linked to bio-ethics and chemistry. Just as the role of chemistry in identifying the presence of formalin or carbide in food is immense, the cyber security branch of computer science is working to prevent digital fraud. If we become aware by using these benefits of science, it will be much easier to protect ourselves from fraudsters.
Various famous personalities and writers have inspired us to follow the path of truth and justice throughout the ages to increase consumer awareness. Mahatma Gandhi said, "A buyer or consumer is the most important visitor to our premises." Modern marketing policies have been designed based on this philosophy, where the consumer is the king. However, as kings, we have the same power as we do — and that is, not to succumb to lies. If we all unite against fraud or artificial price increases and boycott those products, the unscrupulous circle will be forced to retreat. In the words of poet Sukanta Bhattacharya, "I will make this world livable for this child" — and ensuring a safe market system can be the best gift for the children of the future.
Along with the government, the role of various civil society and non-governmental organizations in maintaining the balance of the market system is undeniable. The organizations are working to provide legal assistance to consumers and increase awareness. However, this movement should not be limited to Dhaka or big cities but should be taken to the common people of remote villages.
The success of the consumer rights movement depends on the small steps taken by each of us. When we collect the receipt of a product, we are not only a buyer, but we also preserve a legal proof. This receipt can be the main tool for your complaint. It is now much easier to file a complaint by calling the hotline of the Department of Consumer Rights Protection at 16121.
Finally, it can be said that World Consumer Rights Day is not just a calendar date, it is a global commitment. Getting the right value for the money we spend in exchange for products or services is not our mercy, but a legal and birthright. Keeping this motto in mind, 'Safe products, confident consumers', we must pledge that we will never be cheated again. Enlightened by the light of science and strengthened by the ideals of great minds, we must build a society where businessmen are honest and consumers are aware. Let us know about our rights, choose the right products, and stand up for justice to build a corruption-free and prosperous Bangladesh. We dream of a future where no mother has to worry about adulterated milk, no patient has to be afraid of fake medicines. May our continuous journey continue in the hope of a beautiful, clean, and safe market. May the conscious citizen win.
Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain is an
essayist and President of the International
Anti-Drug Organization - Freedom
International Anti-Alcohol.
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
