Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce is preparing a nationwide crackdown on fake labelling and misleading pricing practices in the clothing retail sector ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr shopping season, amid growing concerns over consumer fraud and artificial price inflation.
Through its Price Monitoring and Forecasting Cell (PMFC), the ministry has issued a formal warning to traders against selling garments with false declarations on country of origin, brand identity or pricing structures — practices that authorities say tend to intensify during peak Eid sales.
Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said traders found misrepresenting locally manufactured garments as imported products would face strict action under existing laws. He warned that selling goods with false declarations is a punishable offence, with penalties ranging from seizure or destruction of goods and financial fines to the cancellation of trade licences.
Eid-ul-Fitr remains Bangladesh’s largest retail season, particularly for apparel, where price irregularities have long been reported in Dhaka’s premium shopping districts such as Gulshan, Banani and Bashundhara. Industry sources say some retailers source fabrics from wholesale hubs including Islampur, produce garments locally and then falsely market them as imports from countries such as Pakistan or India to justify higher prices.
Authorities have also flagged the widespread use of counterfeit labels of international fashion brands during the Eid rush, a tactic that allows unscrupulous traders to mislead consumers and charge inflated rates.
To curb these practices, retailers will be required to maintain detailed documentation covering product origin, sourcing, import records, country of manufacture, cost structures and sales data. Shops must also display price tags and origin information clearly to ensure transparency for consumers.
The Commerce Ministry has begun rolling out its directive through official notices, government websites and direct engagement with traders. Ministry officials said consultations with wholesalers and retailers would be conducted in phases across Dhaka and other divisional cities to secure compliance ahead of Ramadan.
Dhaka has been divided into four monitoring zones, with specialised task forces deployed to inspect markets during the busiest Eid shopping period. Awareness programmes are also planned at Islampur, one of the country’s largest fabric trading centres, with similar initiatives to be rolled out nationwide.
District-level price monitoring committees will be formed under the Consumer Rights Protection Act, empowering authorities to identify irregularities and take legal action against deceptive trade practices.
The ministry said early intervention was critical, as imports and production for Eid sales typically begin well before Ramadan, which is expected to start in mid-February next year.
