Govt to form regulatory body to run e-commerce in disciplined manner

Acknowledging his responsibility over the scandalous e-commerce stores, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said he is trying to find out a solution to address unusual activities of those e-commerce firms.

He was speaking after a review meeting on the recent problems involving e-stores businesses, on Wednesday afternoon. Law Minister Anisul Haque, Home Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, Police IGP Benazir Ahmed were also present in the meeting.

Earlier in the day, after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic and Public Procurement, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the Commerce Ministry should be held primarily responsible for e-commerce fraud.

Asked to comment on the matter, the Commerce Minister said, “The Finance Minister has said that liability cannot be avoided, we do not want to avoid liability and responsibility involving controversial Evaly.”

Tipu said, “That is why we are holding meetings. We take responsibility for the fact that in the coming days, tens of millions of people will survive on e-commerce. We can’t let them drown. That is why we are trying to find a solution with responsibility.”

However, Bangladesh Bank should see the issue of reimbursement.

Asked if 10 to 12 firms had taken any action to reimburse the customers, he said the government will take legal action and try to get the money back.

The commerce minister said the people must be careful about buying stuff online or paying money to e-stores.

He said those who advanced money to Evaly are less likely to get it back. “We will talk to them (Evaly) about what assets, land and resources they have.”

It is not known how much of the assets, even if retrieved at all, could cover while reimbursing clients.

“What the government has done is it has enforced the law. Those who have been accused of fraud have been taken to court. The court will serve justice,” he said.

This is how the government has fulfilled its responsibility. This measure has been taken to prevent such incidents from happening again, later, the minister noted.

He said it was discussed today (Wednesday) that necessary steps should be taken to prevent any person from falling into the trap in the future.

“If we talk to Evaly, I would see how much potential he used to have before, how he can run the company, now. I have to hear from him,” Tipu Munshi said.

Tipu Munshi, also a former BGMEA president, said, “We will not do business anymore, he Evaly CEO) will do the business. We will discuss it with him. Because, the customers will not get anything if he is kept behind the bars.”

He said he would like to know what plan they do have to run the business, hinting that a good intention would allow him to “take into consideration if it seems logical to us. This time digital firms may want to turn around.”

Highlighting the current status of e-commerce, the minister said that the policy that was introduced on July 4 over introducing escrow accounts, could work.

And after the introduction of the policy, orders worth Tk 400 crore have been received. Of this, orders worth around Tk 200 crore have been executed through the escrow account management, added the minister.

He said Evaly’s wallet is now empty. “If he (Rassel) has no money to return to the customers, what is the use of releasing him and letting him fly in the open air?”

Then again, he said, chances of releasing him would brighten if Rassel could amass a significant amount of money to reimburse his clients. “The law then will consider the issue of freeing him.”

The Commerce Minister said that the government will form a regulatory authority to run e-commerce business in the country in a disciplined way.

“We will form a regulatory authority and it will provide registration to the e-commerce farms. The authority will also strictly oversee the digital business of the e-commerce platforms,” he said.

The e-commerce business is running all over the world and lakhs of people are involved with the business, the commerce minister said, adding that the business will be operated in Bangladesh following the digital system.

Claiming that the e-commerce platforms have earned reputation during the pandemic of coronavirus, he said it will not be wise to stop the business though some platforms have indulged in dishonest business and cheated people in many ways.

“We will take tough action against those involved in such offences so that no one can go for the crime in future.”

Taking part in the meeting Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal also underscored the need for adopting a law for e-commerce business so that people are not cheated in the name of digital business.

Echoing the home minister, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said law is a must to protect people from harassment.

It will not be logical to stop the business due to fraudulence of some farms, Mahmud said, stressing the need for forming an ultramodern regulator authority for strengthening vigilance on the e-commerce business.

Law Minister Anisul Huq said the e-commerce sector will have to be disciplined without stopping the business.