The High Court has cleared the way for anyone apart from Unilever Bangladesh for importing and marketing Unilever products in Bangladesh.
The High Court has discharged a rule issued earlier asking the respondents to explain why they should not be directed not to allow the importing and the marketing of the branded finished products of Unilever in the country by anyone other than Unilever Bangladesh.
A larger bench of the High Court comprising Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Md Shohrowardi delivered the verdict on Tuesday after hearing the rule.
Deputy Attorney General Barrister Kazi Maynul Hassan said that after the High Court ruling importers and anyone can import Unilever's products from abroad and market those in Bangladesh.
He further said that the HC ruling will end the monopoly of Unilever Bangladesh and create a competitive market.
Unilever Bangladesh filed the writ petition on October 7, 2010, praying to the HC to issue a rule upon the respondents to show cause as to why the respondents should not be directed not to allow the importing of the branded finished products of Unilever by anyone other than the petitioner.
The products are Vaseline, Knorr, Dove, Pepsodent Tooth Brush, Close up Milk Calcium Nutrient and empty branded packing materials such as bottles, tubes, containers, wrappers, packets, labels etc.
It also prayed to the court to issue a rule as to why the respondents should not be directed not to allow the opening of Letters of Credit by any importer other than the petitioner to import the branded finished products of Unilever.
Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR); Commissioners of Customs in Kurmitoal, Chattogram, Kamalapur, Jashore and Khulna; Agrani Bank and others were made respondents in the petition.
Upon hearing the petition a High Court bench issued a rule that year. After hearing the rule a larger bench of the HC delivered the verdict on Tuesday.
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