Legal notice sent to Aarong over charging customers for paper shopping bags

A Supreme Court lawyer has issued a legal notice to Aarong authorities, demanding that the fashion retailer immediately stop charging customers for paper shopping bags.

Advocate Nishat Farzana sent the notice to Aarong's managing director and other relevant officials at its corporate office on Monday (29 September).

The notice states that if Aarong does not cease charging for bags within 10 days, legal action will be taken in court and complaints will be filed with the appropriate authorities against this "illegal practice."

Advocate Farzana, describing herself as a regular Aarong customer, said she had always received paper bags bearing Aarong's logo with purchases. But during a recent visit to Aarong's Moghbazar outlet, she was informed that since September 2025, bags were no longer given free of cost. Instead, customers must now buy them separately.

Leaflets distributed at billing counters say, "Your favorite Aarong bag is now more meaningful," noting that a small charge is applied to shopping bags and that proceeds will fund local tree-planting projects for a "greener and more sustainable Bangladesh."

The lawyer described this as misleading and exploitative. While she welcomed tree-planting initiatives, she argued that Aarong should fund such activities from its profits rather than passing the burden onto consumers. She termed the practice "a form of extortion and dishonest business mentality."

She also said, "Before introducing such bag versions, Aarong should have conducted a customer survey. At present, customer dissatisfaction over the issue is being expressed at various Aarong outlets and on social media."

The notice further criticised the quality of the paper bags, which are made from recycled paper. According to the lawyer, these bags are fragile, unsuitable for repeated use, and often unusable once customers reach home. Charging for such low-quality bags, she said, is unjustified and disappointing for a large consumer base.

She also pointed out that the bags prominently display Aarong's brand logo, meaning customers are effectively paying to advertise for the company. Aarong has also introduced "Reusable Fabric Bags" at a much higher price, but their small size requires multiple purchases if customers buy more than one item, creating additional financial pressure.

The notice emphasised that Aarong, one of Bangladesh's largest brands, should not engage in such "unethical and opaque practices" that frustrate and burden loyal customers. Instead, the company should provide durable, creative, and free packaging solutions in line with its reputation.