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Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir
The government is actively considering establishing a dedicated E-Commerce Authority to oversee, monitor, and regulate online commercial platforms across the country, Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir informed the Jatiya Sangsad on Sunday.
Responding to a Call Attention Notice submitted under Rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure by opposition (Jamaat-e-Islami) lawmaker M Rashedul Islam Rashed (Sherpur-1), during a session presided over by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal, the minister stated that the regulatory body would bring multi-level marketing (MLM) structures and digital marketplaces under strict oversight.
The minister noted that following rapid expansion in online commerce before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Commerce formulated key governance frameworks, including the National Digital Commerce Policy, the Digital Commerce Operational Guidelines, and the Digital Business Identity (DBID) Registration Guidelines to integrate these entities into a legal framework.
Addressing major financial fraud cases involving platforms such as Evaly, E-orange, Qcoom, Dhamaka Shopping, and Alesha Mart, the Commerce Minister shared:
Consumers lodged 58,720 formal financial fraud complaints with the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP).
The total financial claims associated with these consumer complaints stand at approximately Tk 3,869 crore.
Highlighting administrative reforms, the minister explained that prior to 2022, no dedicated regulatory mechanism existed to systematically register and monitor online enterprises. Subsequently, the Ministry of Commerce mandated DBID guidelines, delegating digital business registration authority to the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), which has issued digital registrations to 1,902 online commercial entities to date.
Following enforcement actions, the DNCRP has recovered Tk 531 crore from fraudulent online entities, the minister confirmed. Of the recovered funds, Tk 472 crore has already been disbursed directly to affected consumers' accounts, while the remaining balance will be distributed upon completing verification procedures.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/business/1f1a49dc-56de-6390-a505-787bcbcdec32