Decision to form e-commerce authority will be known in a month
We will have to wait another month to get a final decision on the formation of separate e-commerce laws and authorities. However, the Ministry of Commerce is moving towards strengthening the digital commerce cell under the existing law without forming new laws or authorities for hair-splitting analysis.
Such a discussion took place at the first meeting of the committee on enactment of digital commerce law and establishment of authority held at the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday.
The meeting was chaired by AHM Safiquzzaman while Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce. Besides Muhammad Saeed Ali, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Head, Central Digital Commerce Cell, representatives of Information Technology Department, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department of Law Ministry, Posts and Telecommunications Department, Bangladesh Bank, National Consumer Rights Protection Department, Bangladesh Competition Commission; accompanied by a teacher from Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering; representatives from the WTO cell of the Ministry of Commerce, FBCCI, a2i, e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh and BASIS leader and Supreme Court lawyer Tanjib Ul Alam were present in the program.
After the meeting, AHM Safiquzzaman, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, said it would be known in a month's time whether there would be a new law for e-commerce or an e-commerce authority. A subcommittee on law and authority has been formed. He will depend on the recommendations of the subcommittee's report on whether the law and authority will be formed. The committee will thoroughly analyze the whole matter.
He added, "At present there are National Consumer Rights Protection Act, Competition Commission Act, Digital Security Act. It may be so that a new section or sub-section will be added by amending the existing laws." And it takes a long time to form an authority; there is the involvement of the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Finance. It may not be possible to form an authority all in a sudden. But we will strengthen the digital commerce cell. This cell will also be given technical assistance.
After the meeting, AHM Safiquzzaman, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, said it would be known in a month's time whether there would be a new law for e-commerce or an e-commerce authority. A subcommittee on law and authority has been formed. He will depend on the recommendations of the subcommittee's report on whether the law and authority will be formed. The committee will thoroughly analyze the whole matter.
He added, "At present there are National Consumer Rights Protection Act, Competition Commission Act, Digital Security Act. It may be so that a new section or sub-section will be added by amending the existing laws." And it takes a long time to form an authority; there is the involvement of the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Finance. It may not be possible to form an authority all in a sudden. But we will strengthen the digital commerce cell. This cell will also be given technical assistance.
