Post offices now reliable for e-commerce: Jabbar

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said that the country’s post offices have now become a reliable element for the growth of the e-commerce sector.

“No other institution in the country has the vast nationwide infrastructure and manpower the post offices have. It has become a reliable element for product distribution of the e-commerce sector,” he said, adding that there is no alternative to the post office to deliver daily essentials, including frozen food, to the remotest areas of the country.

The minister made the remarks in an official statement issued to the media marking World Postal Day scheduled on October 9.

In the statement, he said, “Senders and customers can now track the latest location or delivery information of postal items. Also, Digital Serial System has been introduced in important post offices including Dhaka GPO for the convenience of customers.

He said, “Under the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we are formulating a master plan for digitisation of the post offices, to upgrade the entire postal system as per the requirements of the digital era. It will be implemented soon.”

“With the implementation of this master plan prepared by the officials of the postal department and related experts, the standard of postal service will soon be raised to the desired level,” the minister hoped in the statement.

Jabbar said, “Some 14 sorting centres are being constructed and digitised. At the same time, we have taken the initiative to introduce chilling compartments in trains and chilling vans in postal vehicles for the transportation of frozen items.”

“Apart from digitising the postal system, we are digitising the post offices also, training around 45,000 employees with digital skills which hopefully will be the foundation for post-office-centric e-commerce activities,” the statement read.