Instructions for Goods' Delivery within 10 Days of Payment Receipt

The Ministry of Commerce has finalized instructions on how to manage the country's digital commerce (e-commerce), including Evaly and Alisha Mart. The directive will be sent to the law ministry for vetting soon. If this guideline is implemented, e-commerce companies will have to deliver the product to the buyers within 10 days of receiving the advance payment.

Md Hafizur Rahman, Additional Secretary to Commerce Ministry and head of the Central Digital Commerce Cell, told reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh on Wednesday (June 30th).

The head of the ministry's e-commerce cell said e-commerce companies would have a maximum of 10 days to deliver products if the buyer-seller location is in a different city. If these guidelines are implemented, discipline will be ensured in this fast growing sector and healthy competition will be created.

The guideline will be sent to the law ministry for vetting. If the law ministry thinks the directive needs cabinet approval, it will take some time to issue. Otherwise, it will be issued very soon at the end of vetting.

He told reporters that various sections have been added to the guidelines so that the buyer is not deceived. If a company does not comply with these rules, the government will be able to close the company, and consumers will be able to sue the Consumer Rights Protection Department and other relevant courts.

Shami Kaiser, president of the E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (E-CAB), said the implementation of the guidelines would ensure healthy competition in the e-commerce sector and protect the rights of consumers.