The pace of refunding money to the affected customers from e-commerce companies has been reduced by 25% in comparison to the money refunded in the first year. In such a situation, a discussion meeting was held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of Dhaka Reports Unity on ‘Consumers’ rights in the e-commerce and e-service sectors and what we should do’.
Giving an impression that the e-commerce sector is being reorganized and reconstructed, the Director General of Consumers’ Rights Protection Directorate AHM Safikuzzaman said, “Yellow journalism may hinder the return of e-commerce.” While speaking as the president of the event, he called upon the journalists and further added, “You may publish negative news but you should not demoralize the sector with fake news”.
He also said that in 2021, the consumers were in a frenzy over fraud in e-commerce. Many of the fraudsters fled to Dubai, Santiago and India after cheating. From that context, a SOP helped to some extent to stop the scammers from withdrawing money. As a result of this, giving the account of the refund of the money held in escrow, he said that 386 crore taka have been returned to the consumers so far. Of this, Qcoom has returned Tk 308 crore, Alesha Mart returned Tk 40 crore 67 lakh, Dalal Plus returned Tk 18 crore and Evaly returned Tk 10 crore 43 lakh.
Admitting his initiative to release Qcoom’s Ripon from jail on bail to return these money, he said that still 70 crore taka is yet to be repaid. By bringing them back to the business, we are making arrangements to return the money. Also, we settled 5722 out of total 5879 complaints of fraud victims on Facebook. The clearance rate is 97.33%. The rest that are not settled are basically untraceable. Due to this, the pages are being closed with the help of BTRC.
Safikuzzaman Aksaf said, when a student orders 100 motorcycles at a 50% discount, then the e-commerce sector must fall flat on its face. What if a gambling site like RingID is called e-commerce! Jam Jam water or Jainamaz of Riazul Jannah is not sold. Consumers should be aware of this in addition to those who sell these on Facebook.
He also mentioned about stopping the delivery of products without cash on delivery to restoring order in e-commerce and starting the registration process of traders easily and free of charge through DBID. However, only 800 people have registered with DBID. He drew the attention of e-CAB and suggested to increase it. CLTP apps have been developed to track delivery products through postal department. At the same time, on the upcoming Consumer Day, ‘CCMS’ (Consumer Complaint Management System) will be launched across the country for redressal of consumer complaints. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate it on March 15. Also, the formation of e-commerce authority has been finalized soon. It is now awaiting Cabinet approval.
– AHM Safikuzzaman , Director General, Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection
Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers’ Association-BMPCA President Mohiuddin Ahmed was present in the meeting as a special guest, Director of Bangladesh Competition Commission Gazi Golam Tausif, CAB Vice President SM Najer Hossain, Joint General Secretary of ISPAB Anwar Hoson Anu, e-CAB Vice President Md. Sahab Uddin and others presented their views.
Presenting the main article at the beginning of the discussion, market analyst Kazi Abdul Hannan said that by 2026, the market size of e-commerce in Bangladesh will be Tk 1 lakh 50 thousand crores. But in the absence of e-commerce policy in the country, a predatory force has developed in this sector. If discipline is brought in this sector, investment, income and employment will increase.
Evaly Founder and CEO Mohammad Russell, E-Courier CEO Biplab Ghosh Rahul and others also spoke at the event.
Questions were raised about the reason for withholding money at the gateway even after discounting the products. Meanwhile, in response to journalists’ questions – the CAB Vice President Md. Sahab Uddin said, in the case of Qcoom, many things of those who will get money are stuck on the verification issue. There are complications in customer data verification from Foster. Also, it is getting delayed as many companies are not caught even after asking to come. More than 387 crore taka out of 525 crores has been given as we persisted. Now payment gateways need cooperation with cash.
Evaly CEO Mohammad Russell said, if you want customers to get their money back, then let me do business without external pressure. I strongly say that every affected e-cab customer in Bangladesh will get their money back soon.
Biplab, CEO of eCourier, said that e-commerce is moving towards a positive movement. People from remote areas outside Dhaka are getting products at home. For this, the government, law enforcement agencies, entrepreneurs, delivery persons all have to do it simultaneously. The more positive it can be, the more positive it will be.
In the president’s speech, Mohiuddin said, we work to protect the interests of customers, entrepreneurs and the state. I am concerned about everyone’s safety. We want to see to get the problems solved with all parties.