Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) officials on Tuesday fined 48 businesses in 17 districts Tk 0.448 million for violating consumer rights.
Among the businesses, several eateries in the city's Motijheel area were fined Tk 50,000 for preparing food in unhygienic environment, a DNCRP statement said on Wednesday.
Twenty-three DNCRP officials conducted the drives in 17 districts, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Jamalpur, Barishal and Sylhet.
Officials from the DNCRP headquarters and its Dhaka division office, including Deputy Director Bikash Chandra and Assistant Director Pranab Kumar Pramanik, conducted a market monitoring drive in the city's Motijheel area.
In market monitoring drives in other districts, 45 traders were fined for infringing consumer rights.
Allegations against them included preparing food in unhygienic environment, not using the maximum retail price indication, selling expired medicines or other goods, food adulteration and deceiving in weighing scale.
The traders also demanded higher prices than MRPs, showed negligence in delivery of services or goods, did not display price lists where applicable, the statement said.
Officials from the district administrations, members of police, sanitary inspectors and leaders of the trade bodies were also present.
DNCRP officials distributed leaflets and pamphlets among traders and general public to create awareness about the consumers' rights and responsibilities.
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