Md Joynal Abedin Khan
The delivery service of different products ordered by customers through online platforms is getting popular during the ongoing week-long lockdown issued by the government to halt the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Business people said that the order and delivery of food and grocery items have increased significantly in the past three days, breaking all the previous records.
Many new customers are showing interest in purchasing products from different online platforms to prevent them from getting infected by a coronavirus, contributing to the boost in the home delivery service businesses, they added.
Some consumers also ordered products online taking the advantage of easy technologies provided by business operators that helped the purchasers avoid the unwanted hazards of shopping physically in markets, according to home delivery service providers.
Citing her previous business experience, Grace Kanta Sarker, Head of Marketing of Shohoz, a popular platform of the online business in the country, told The Business Post that it’s a matter of great hope for online business providers.
The scenario was almost opposite after the country announced the shutdown in March last year during the first wave of the outbreak, she said.
“The online business will get more popularity if the service provers can ensure a timely delivery of products,” she said.
Md Zakaria Habib, a delivery man of Foodpanda, said that both the order and devilry of products raised in the past three days as the government imposed certain restrictions in an undeclared lockdown from April 5 to April 11.
Lata Rani Hawlader, a banker residing in the capital’s Segun Bagiacha, area, said that their whole family preferred shopping online during the lockdown and emergency period to save lives and time.
She, however, complained that sometimes online shops provide substandard products drawing ire of customers.
"Orders started flooding, particularly for masks and sanitisers," said Asikul Alam Khan, Chief Executive Officer of PriyoShop.
Farid Uddin Babu, a businessman residing in Dhaka’s Maniknagar, hoped online services would be well equipped to deliver orders to his doorstep in time to boost business.
“I am not going to the market to avoid the crowd and will not do so for many more days to come,” he said.
Ataur Rahman, a consumer, said he was depending on online shops to avoid trouble in lockdown.
“I hope that the online shops will make preparations to handle the pressure in case the situation deteriorates in the coming winter,” said.
Sabbir Hasan Nasir, the executive director of Shwapno, a chain super shop, said they provide online services from different outlets.
“As the outbreak intensified, the online order is going up,” he said.
Chaldal CEO Waseem Alim pointed out that the demand for rice, vegetables and hygiene products went high since late March.
Kurban Ali Badal, a senior lawyer at Supreme Court, said online shopping should be taken under the specific act to ensure the rights of consumers.
Pathao, Foodpanda, Chaldal, Sobjibazar, e-Courier, Steadfast, Khas Food, keenlay.com, Rokomari, Othoba, Ajker deal, Daraz, Evaly BD and Trinas Closset are familiar names among the app-based service providers under the Digital Commerce Policy.
The e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh works to maintain a bridge between the government policymakers and the e-commerce operators to promote the online business in line with the policy.
The number of members in the association has grown to 1,400 from 1,000 amid the coronavirus menace.
But the condition of hundreds of Facebook-based individual online businesses that flourished earlier could not be assessed by the e-CAB, said the association leaders.
Mjak/am
