‘E-commerce firms must register in two months’

All local e-commerce companies will have to register with the Ministry of Commerce by two months, and have to keep deposits in the Bangladesh Bank as well.

Making the disclosure to reporters at the Secretariat after a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said, “We discussed Evaly and the e-commerce sector in today’s [Thursday] meeting.

“The commerce ministry has made a decision, and everyone involved in e-commerce will have to register in two months. At the same time, they will have to keep a deposit in the central bank.”

He added that in case of an untoward incident, everyone [involved] will get paid from the deposit.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting from Ganabhaban through video conference. Ministers and state ministers from the Cabinet Division attended too.

Speaking to the media, Anwarul added, “The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit and other intelligence agencies have been instructed to monitor the situation to prevent irregularities [in this sector].

“Moreover, instructions have been given to launch a massive campaign to raise awareness among the masses.”