Act on the administration of the e-com sector on the cards

The Cabinet Audit Committee is scheduled to examine the bill today

REZAUL KARIM
| Published: May 23, 2024 00:13:48

To provide a legal framework for the country’s rapidly growing e-commerce sector, the Commerce Ministry has prepared a draft law providing punitive measures against fraud and fraud.
A draft of the proposed Digital Trade Authority Act (DCAA) is due to be considered by the Cabinet Review Committee today (Thursday).
When contacted, a senior official said the commerce ministry would finalize the project after taking into account the opinion of the influential committee and then send it to the cabinet division for approval.
Meanwhile, the ministry has mobilized opinions from stakeholders to clarify the proposed law.
The project proposed the creation of an Office of the Digital Commerce Authority, consisting of an executive chairman and four members.
The office will be responsible for resolving disputes and preventing crime across the entire e-commerce ecosystem.
The authority will conduct the necessary proceedings, including: taking steps to register digital commerce organizations, receiving complaints from buyers and sellers, and taking steps to monitor and resolve customer complaints.
The draft law contains provisions on criminal measures for misleading buyers or customers through false or misleading advertising or sales promotions.
Besides, the Act provides for significant amounts of penalties, including a penalty of Tk 0.1 million for refusing to cooperate or obstructing on-site inspection, monitoring and supervision of online buying and selling activities by concerned e-commerce companies.
Earlier, the commerce ministry had decided to prepare the Digital Commerce Act (DCA) 2023. Instead, the ministry prepared the DCAA on the request of e-commerce stakeholders.
Contacted, a senior commerce ministry official said the law was being prepared in line with international standards. The Ministry will finalize them after taking into account the necessary suggestions and opinions.
Currently, there is no law in the country regulating the developing e-commerce sector. However, it includes the Digital Trade Policy – ​​2018 and its amendment in 2020 and the Digital Trade Operational Guide – 2021.
The official mentioned a legal vacuum in preventing fraud by online portals.
Faced with massive e-commerce scams and scams in 2021, authorities rushed to impose discipline on a growing sector that has thrived since the pandemic shutdown.
However, remedial measures were taken too late to limit the damage and arrest the collapse of key online stores such as Evaly, Dhamaka, e-Orange, Sirajganj Shop, Aladiner Prodip, Boom Boom, Adyen Mart, Needs, Qcoom.com and Alesha Mart.
The government then ordered the introduction of a digital business identification (DBID) system.
The authorities said they are also working on introducing a central complaints management system (CCMS), to be developed by the ICT Department.
According to the E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (ECAB), the e-commerce or digital commerce journey began in the country in 1999. However, the e-commerce journey began fully and professionally 10 years later in 2009.
The development of the sector began in 2014. The following year, in 2015, ECAB was recognized as an organization.
There are approximately 2,754 e-commerce companies operating under e-taxi. According to the Commerce Ministry, there are around 2,500 digital commerce companies operating in the country.

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