Home ›› 12 Jan 2022 ›› News
Alesha Card – an initiative of the controversial e-commerce platform Alesha Holdings Ltd – is offering up to 50 per cent discounts on multiple services including healthcare, hotels, restaurants and online marketplaces, reportedly without any government approval.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials say customers have yet to submit a complaint against this programme, but it could trigger another e-commerce scandal similar to the likes of Evaly, e-orange shop, Qcoom.com.
Under the circumstances, the CID recently urged the Bangladesh Bank to take action against the Alesha Card Ltd, insiders told The Business Post.
According to the company’s website, Alesha Card is a discount programme for consumers facilitated through its own website and mobile application, allowing cardholders to avail offers and privileges from partner stores.
On the matter, Special Superintendent of the CID police (Financial Crime Unit) Humayun Kabir said, “Alesha is offering one-time and renewable cards with validities lasting a year. These cards can be used to get discounts while purchasing goods or services.
“For a company, it is mandatory to get permission from the government before operating such services. The Alesha Card however is operating without any Bangladesh Bank permission, and they did not make a security deposit.”
An official of the central bank’s Payment System Department said, “The Bangladesh Bank approves a card service only for payment purposes, but Alesha is not a payment card, and the company did not apply to the regulator seeking permission.”
A number of CID officials said they had called Alesha Card authorities three times with queries regarding their business.
After avoiding the first two queries, the company later said it is providing the card service under a registration certificate from the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), an organisation under the Ministry of Commerce.
However, the RJSC certificate is just a primary permission from the government for opening a company, professional organisation or partnership business. More certificates or licences are mandatory from regulatory organisations concerned based on the type of business.
Alesha Card Ltd is registered with the RJSC as a private company with the registration number C-172503.
The Business Post made multiple attempts to contact Alesha Card Ltd’s Managing Director Md Monzur Alam Sikder, but he could not be reached for comments till the filing of this report.
In August last year, Alesha Holdings launched the Alesha Card programme with special benefits and offers with a slogan “A long-lasting relationship between business partners and cardholders.”
The Alesha Card is currently offering up to 50 per cent discount on over 90 categories of products and services with over 3,000 suppliers in the country. Cardholders will also get a 10 per cent discount on selected products at the Alesha Mart.
