The government has initiated a three-step policy measure to halt fraudulent activities by e-commerce platforms and bring all business entities under an accountable legal framework.
This move comes following an unprecedented expansion of the country’s e-commerce sector, coupled with widespread consumer fraud.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir made the disclosure on Sunday in a written reply to a query of urgent public importance, raised under Rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure in Parliament.
The query regarding fraudulent activities in the e-commerce sector and subsequent government actions was put forward during the parliamentary session by Md Rashedul Islam Rashed, lawmaker for Sherpur-1 constituency.
Policy framework and scams
To restore discipline in this sector, Ministry of Commerce has formulated and commenced the implementation of National Digital Commerce Policy, Digital Commerce Operational Guidelines, and Digital Business Identity (DBID) Registration Guidelines.
Muktadir noted that several highly publicised e-commerce entities had previously perpetrated massive financial scams against customers.
Widespread complaints have been lodged with the Ministry of Commerce and National Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection against multiple firms, including Evaly, E-Orange, Qcoom, Dhamaka Shopping, and Alesha Mart.
Claims total Tk3,869cr
According to statistics provided by the National Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection, defrauded consumers have filed a total of 58,720 complaints against various e-commerce organisations to date.
The total financial claims submitted by affected customers and sellers stand at approximately Tk3,869 crore. The Ministry of Commerce is actively working to guarantee transparency across digital commerce organisations and oversee the recovery process of customers’ dues.
With the permission of the Speaker, Sherpur-1 MP Md Rashedul Islam Rashed raised a supplementary question, inquiring about the government’s direct plans to expedite the compensation and refund process for ordinary citizens whose thousands of crores of taka remain trapped in platforms like Evaly or Alesha Mart.
Administrative safeguards, dues recovery
Responding to the supplementary query, Muktadir acknowledged that consumers had suffered severe financial losses due to historical irregularities in the e-commerce sector, which the current government is considering with the utmost gravity.
He stated that with the introduction of the Digital Business Identity (DBID), legal records of every valid e-commerce entity are now preserved by the government, which is playing an effective role in preventing the establishment of fraudulent platforms.
Furthermore, the priority resolution of more than 58,000 complaints lodged with the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection is currently underway under administrative and legal monitoring to ensure the return of outstanding dues to the affected victims.
