Technology is essential to ensure consumer rights

It is not possible to ensure consumer rights only by applying laws; for this purpose skilled manpower and advanced technology are required. This was suggested by the speakers at a seminar on 'Role of Science and Technology in Food Security' at the National Museum of Science and Technology on Sunday.

The Science Museum Authority organized this seminar when a team consisting of officers of the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate and officials from various government departments, who were undergoing training at the National Planning and Development Academy, visited the National Science and Technology Museum.

At the seminar, Director General of National Science and Technology Museum Mohammad Munir Chowdhury said, “Science Museum is willing to organize public opinion by working with Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection through scientific seminars and various programs on food safety and consumer rights among the young generation. It is never possible for the Directorate alone to ensure the Consumer Rights Act is absolute. For this, there should be a massive campaign about consumer rights laws, product or service quality and defects, and warning people by highlighting information about penalized traders. Parallel to this, use of modern technology should be ensured in consumer rights campaigns.

Citing examples, he said, modern milk analyzer technology has brought many benefits to Milk Vita to prevent milk adulteration, through which immediate quality of milk has been ensured. A lot of corruption can be reduced by using the right technology. Ensuring the quality of products for billions of consumers is not possible with limited manpower. To that end, the National Directorate of Consumer Protection needs to use advanced technology and train the manpower accordingly."

Atia Sultana, Deputy Director of National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate, presented the keynote speech on the occasion.