A legal notice has been served to government authorities demanding the categorisation of beef prices based on the breed and type of cattle, including local bulls, hybrid breeds, old cows, and heifers.
On Sunday, Md Mahbubul Hasan sent the notice in the “public interest” to the Commerce secretary, the Fisheries and Livestock secretary, the director general of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), and the chairperson of Bangladesh Competition Commission.
The notice seeks the issuance of mandatory administrative and legal directives within 15 days to determine retail beef prices according to the specific category of the animal. It warns that legal action will be initiated if the requested measures are not taken within the stipulated timeframe.
The legal notice points out that while the market distinguishes between the prices of broiler, Sonali, and local chickens, no such division exists for beef. Currently, meat from local bulls, hybrid or farm cattle, old cows, and heifers is sold at a uniform price, which the notice characterises as “illegal and arbitrary”.
The lawyer argued that this uniform pricing system is a “massive fraud” against general consumers and constitutes an “unfair trade practice”. Consequently, consumers are forced to pay “premium” or excessive prices for low-quality and tougher meat, particularly from old cows, and are being deprived of their legal rights.
The notice highlights that this “syndicate” is causing significant harm to marginal and rural farmers. Those who invest time and labour to raise high-quality local cattle naturally are being denied fair financial value. The syndicates involving hybrid cattle farmers and sellers of old cows are allegedly reaping “unreasonable profits,” fostering a discriminatory economic environment.
The notice concludes that the authorities’ inaction in this regard is a direct violation of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, and the Competition Act, 2012.
