The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has demanded immediate government action to resolve the ongoing electricity and gas crisis and to reinstate the recently scrapped list of essential medicines, warning that consumer suffering has reached an extreme level.
The demands came at a discussion meeting titled "Protest against inadequate electricity and gas supply and the decision to scrap the essential medicine list," organised by CAB at its Segunbagicha office in the capital on Thursday.
Addressing the meeting, CAB President AHM Shafiquzzaman said around 400 mills have already shut down amid the fuel crisis, raising the risk of higher production costs and unemployment.
He said gas and oil prices, transport extortion and system losses were fuelling public suffering, and called for a reduction in import dependence to ensure domestic industry and fuel availability and move toward self-reliance.
He also urged the government to inform the public about the rationale behind scrapping the essential drug policy and take effective steps to control medicine prices, cautioning the authorities to adopt a pro-people policy ensuring food and medicine safety.
CAB Central Secretary General Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said consumer suffering had peaked due to the gas-electricity crisis and the scrapping of the essential medicines list.
"We are not against the government; rather, we are playing an advocacy role, standing beside the government in the public interest," he said, urging authorities to identify those responsible and take swift, effective measures to ease consumer hardship.
CAB Treasurer Shawkat Ali Khan said adulteration has "taken the shape of an epidemic," adding that various problems already existed around medicines even before the essential drug list was abruptly scrapped, worsening the crisis further.
He called for restoring the essential medicine list to ensure logical pricing and availability, along with strict measures against adulterated medicine and food to safeguard public health.
Bangladesh Sadharan Nagorik Samaj Convener Mohiuddin Ahmed said the energy crisis requires specific solutions, calling for effective measures to boost domestic gas extraction and ensure fuel supply, and stressed the need for long-term energy planning to reduce import dependence.
CAB advisor Khalilur Rahman, Organising Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Publicity Secretary Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, and executive committee member Anwar Hossain were also present at the discussion. The event was moderated by CAB Executive Director Ahmed Ekramullah.