Commerce Ministry Recommends to Lodge Case against Evaly

The Commerce Ministry has sent a letter recommending a case against Evaly for various irregularities, including non-delivery of goods on time with money from customers.

A separate letter has also been sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take legal action after investigating the financial irregularities raised by Bangladesh Bank.

According to sources, a letter was sent to the Home Ministry on Sunday (July 4th) to file a case against the e-commerce company for allegedly illegally withdrawing Tk 338 crore from customers and merchants.

In the letter, the Commerce Ministry said that only 16.14% of customers would be able to deliver or refund goods with the current assets of Evali.com. It is not possible for the company to pay the dues of the rest of the customers and merchants. Moreover, no trace of Tk 338.62 crore taken from customers and merchants has been found, which is likely to be embezzled or illegally removed elsewhere.

In addition, the Commerce Ministry has directed the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection and the Bangladesh Competition Commission to take action as per the law by investigating the non-delivery of goods and refund of Tk 190 crore owed to merchants by accepting an advance of Tk 214 crore from customers.

In an inspection report issued by the Commerce Ministry last month, Bangladesh Bank said Evaly's total liability was Tk 407.18 crore. After receiving Tk 213.94 crore in advance from customers and Tk 189.85 crore from merchants, the company is expected to have at least Tk 403.60 crore in current assets but only Tk 65.17 crore.

Concerned that the amount of Evaly's liability to customers and merchants may be higher, Bangladesh Bank reported that this is the reason why Evaly authorities did not allow the inspection team to enter the company's replica database.

A letter has been sent to the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection to take legal action to protect the rights of consumers who have not received the product with advance payment and are not getting the price back. The company's law also provides for the closure of a company for violating consumer interests.

Md Hafizur Rahman, director-general of the WTO cell of the commerce ministry has advised consumers who are being cheated by paying advance in Evaly to lodge a complaint with the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection immediately.

Md Mofizul Islam, chairman of the competition commission, said after receiving the letter from the commerce ministry, a case was already pending with Evaly offering a 150% discount. In the meantime, I received a letter from the Ministry of Commerce. We will investigate further and take action according to the law if we get information about anti-healthy competition activities against Evaly.