58,720 e-commerce fraud complaints filed, claims worth Tk 3,869cr

A total of 58,720 complaints have been lodged against various e-commerce companies in the country by customers and sellers alleging financial fraud, with the amount claimed reaching nearly Tk 3,869 crore, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir told Parliament.

The minister disclosed the figures in a written reply to a question raised by Sherpur-1 MP Md Rashedul Islam Rashed under Rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure during Sunday’s parliamentary session.

According to the minister, a large number of complaints have been filed with the Ministry of Commerce and the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection against several high-profile e-commerce platforms, including Evaly, E-Orange, Qcoom, Dhamaka Shopping and Alesha Mart. Many of the complaints concern money allegedly remaining unpaid to customers and sellers.

The government has introduced and implemented the National Digital Commerce Policy, Digital Commerce Operation Guidelines and Digital Business Identification (DBID) Registration Guidelines to strengthen transparency, accountability and consumer protection in the sector, the minister said.

Rashed later asked whether the government had any direct plan to expedite the return or compensation of money stuck with companies such as Evaly and Alesha Mart.

In response, Muktadir said the government was taking the issue seriously as a large number of customers had suffered financial losses due to irregularities in the e-commerce sector.

He said complaints filed with the consumer rights directorate were being addressed on a priority basis, while legal and administrative oversight was continuing to facilitate the recovery of money owed to affected customers.

The minister also said the introduction of DBID has enabled the government to maintain legal and identification information of registered e-commerce businesses.

According to him, the system is expected to reduce the scope for fraud through fake or non-existent businesses while strengthening discipline and accountability in digital commerce.