FT ONLINE

The government is set to monitor the prices of computers and related accessories from next month, aiming to bring discipline to this sector, official said.

The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) and the Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) will sit together on July 2 to work out ways to implement the government plan.

Starting next month, it will be mandatory for traders to display the maximum retail price (MRP) on computers and accessories, according to the DNCRP and the BCS.

"We will sit with the BCS on July 2 to discuss our plan," Director General (DG) of DNCRP Md Shafiqul Islam Laskar said.

An uneven competition is now prevailing in the sector, as most traders make hefty profits by ripping off customers.

Such unscrupulous practice has forced many to leave the sector, a trader said.

The government initiative will help consumers buy computers and accessories on MRP basis, assistant general manager of BCS Md Hasanuzzaman said.

In the budget for fiscal year 2018-19, the government proposed reducing import duty on some software, aiming to expedite and expand computer and information and technology (IT) sector.

The annual turnover from sales of computer and its accessories in the country is around Tk 10 billion, sources said.