Speakers at a discussion yesterday urged all to save the future generation from the bad effect of junk food that poses risk of various diseases including diabetes and cancer.
Terming the existing laws as 'not enough' to serve the interests of consumers, they urged the caretaker government to formulate stringent laws in this regard.
Satkhira district unit of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) organised the discussion on the premises of Satkhira Unnayan Kendra in the town.
Earlier political governments failed to formulate proper laws to ensure the rights of consumers while businessmen formed syndicates to victimise people in general.
Expressing concern over unusual price hike of essentials, they urged the government to take measures to keep prices 'tolerable' during the month of Ramadan.
Policy makers do not use local products and as such they do not bother about the quality of the products made in the country, they said.
Physicians usually prescribe the medicines that they get as samples along with gifts from the pharmaceutical companies, they said, adding that patients are being deprived due to this practice as quality id sacrificed.
They said the media can play an effective role in raising awareness among the people of all classes in this regard.
Stressing the need for integrated efforts by the government and non-government organisations to work together to protect the rights of the consumers, they suggested setting up a special court, regular monitoring of markets, control of misleading advertisements and provision for compensation to the consumers for protecting their rights.
District Information Officer Nurul Huda was chief guest while former principal of Satkhira Government College Asit Kumar Majumdar and district marketing officer SM Abdullah were special guests at the discussion with district CAB convenor Principal Ashek-E-Elahi in the chair.
It was addressed, among others, by Prof Anisur Rahim, Prof Subhas Chandra Sarkar, Prof Modasserul Haque Jyoti, Parvin Akhtar, Altaf Hossain, Bablu Chowdhury.