Viqarunnisa students can now get uniforms from tailors they choose

There is good news for the students of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. They are now free to pick the tailors of their choice for their school uniforms.  

In a ruling on a case, the Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) on Wednesday directed the school authorities to scrap an obligation for students to get school uniforms prepared by a set tailor shop. 

According to sources at the commission, the Viqarunnisa School and College authorities signed a three-year contract with a tailor named Chowdhury Enterprise in 2020.

Then, the school authorities instructed their students to make their school or college outfits at that tailor.

Aiming to restore the freedom of choice by the students, the competition commission filed a case against the tailor and the school authorities.

In the case statement, the commission stated that the defendants had violated several provisions of the Competition Act 2012 and added that it has established a monopoly business in the market and harmed the interests of consumers.

The commission issued the order to Viqarunnisa after the allegation was proved and fined Ibrahim Mollah, proprietor of the tailor, Tk79,897. 

When asked, Kamrun Nahar, principal of Viqarunnisa School and College, told The Business Standard, "We will follow the instructions of the commission."

The commission's order said the obligation to buy school uniforms from just one store must be avoided. 

For each campus, at least three tailor shops must be selected where the school authorities can determine the dress code and uniform specifications, the ruling added.

It further said the tailor shops must be selected through publishing an advertisement in at least two newspapers. 

The price chart of the outfits must be published in public places and in the selected tailor shops along with on the notice board of the school and college.

The authorities have also been instructed to monitor whether the uniforms are being sold at fixed prices.