The government will not close down e-commerce businesses just because of some unscrupulous organizations in the country.
At the same time, tougher action will be taken if guilty e-commerce companies do not show a positive attitude to refund customers’ money.
“We will send a list of e-commerce companies that do not show a positive attitude by contacting the Commerce Ministry's digital commerce cell by March 31, to the police headquarters for legal action to refund the customers’ money,” he said.
Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Director General of the Consumer Protection Department AHM Shafiquzzaman made the remarks at a ceremony held at the Commerce Ministry's conference room at Shrestha.com and Alif World's Payment Gateway to return the money to customers, on Monday.
Safiquzzaman said, “The money stuck at the payment gateway of Shrestha.com and Alif World was returned to the customers today. According to the Digital Commerce Cell of the Ministry of Commerce, the customers have been reimbursed their stuck money. Tk 17 lakh has been reimbursed to 11 customers of Shrestha.com and Tk 28 lakh has been reimbursed to 21 customers of Alif World.”
He said ecommerce will continue for the country. But now, as before, the Ministry of Commerce is keeping an eye on the business so that no one can cheat.
The Additional Secretary said that the Ministry of Commerce will take legal action against the e-commerce companies which do not return the money to the customers by March 31. The law enforcement has been instructed on this. There are about 39 such institutions.
He said the exact amount of money held by these institutions is not yet known.
“We made an effort to resolve those allegations. Many of these organizations are in the case. Many are hiding, who do not want to come to the service due to various fears. We invited them to come by March 31 and contact the Digital Commerce Cell and e-Cab. We want to help you,” he added.
The Additional Secretary said, “We will give the list of those who do not participate positively by March 31 to various agencies including the police headquarters. They have not yet conveyed any message of hope to the people and they may be hiding in the country or themselves.”
“We are going to take a difficult decision by holding a meeting of the technical committee in April. That is, our agencies will take legal action against them. But the money that is stuck, we will instruct the payment gateways that the stuck money goes to the customers within 7 days. In that case there will be no objection,” the Additional Secretary added further.
