The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has imposed heavy financial penalties on two prominent gas distributors in Manikganj following a targeted enforcement drive. The action was initiated after investigations revealed that these traders were fabricating a “gas crisis” to justify the illegal inflation of prices for bottled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). For a significant period, unsuspecting residents had been subjected to these predatory tactics, forced to pay well above the official government-sanctioned rates for essential household fuel.
On Monday, 5 January, a specialised team led by Assistant Director Asaduzzaman Rumel conducted a three-hour raid in the Beotha district. The operation, which lasted from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, focused on verifying compliance with consumer safety and pricing regulations. The inspection team discovered that M/S Millennium Traders and M/S Raiyan Traders had been operating with total disregard for transparency; neither establishment was displaying the mandatory price lists, and both were frequently withholding formal receipts from their customers to obscure the overcharging.
As a direct consequence of these findings, M/S Millennium Traders was fined 100,000 BDT, while M/S Raiyan Traders was penalised 50,000 BDT. The DNCRP confirmed that these fines were levied under specific provisions of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, which prohibits the sale of goods at prices exceeding the maximum retail price (MRP) set by the state. The raid was supported by local police units and witnessed by Shamsunnabi Tulip, the district president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), reflecting a unified front against market exploitation.
Penalties Imposed During Market Inspection
| Business Entity | Location | Fine Amount (BDT) | Primary Offence |
| M/S Millennium Traders | Beotha, Manikganj | 100,000 | Excessive pricing & absence of records |
| M/S Raiyan Traders | Beotha, Manikganj | 50,000 | Price manipulation & receipt evasion |
| Aggregated Fines | — | 150,000 | Unfair Trade Practices |
Addressing the media after the operation, Asaduzzaman Rumel reiterated that there is no legal excuse for exploiting consumers under the guise of supply shortages. He maintained that the government-regulated price for LPG must be strictly adhered to and that any merchant found guilty of deceptive pricing would face severe consequences. The authority has pledged to maintain a continuous presence in the market, with more “combing operations” scheduled across the wider Manikganj district to deter future violations and ensure that essential energy remains affordable for the public.