CRPD, BCC to investigate Evaly

The Ministry of Commerce has directed Consumer Right Protection Directorate (CRPD) and Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) to investigate the financial transactions and other online activities of e-commerce platform Evaly.

Two government agencies will submit the investigation report on Evaly within seven working days, according to commerce ministry sources.

Meanwhile, a three-member investigation committee of commerce ministry submitted a report on Evaly to Commerce Secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin on Thursday.

An official of commerce ministry, involved with the initial investigation, said all the allegations against Evaly involves consumer right law and competition laws.

As result CRPD and BCC will further investigate the allegations since the two agencies' work relates to consumer right and businesses competition, the official also said.

On August 27, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) under Bangladesh Bank froze the accounts of Evaly’s Chairman Shamima Nasrin, and Managing Director Md Rassel for 30 days under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2019.

Earlier, a Bangla daily Prothom Alo report revealed that Evaly offers consumers all sorts of lucrative deals, with cash back offers going up to 80 to 150 per cent.

Thousands of consumers were being lured in by these almost unbelievable deals being offered by this Bangladeshi e-commerce company.

The report also read this company started with a paid-up capital of 50,000 taka, still had a paid-up capital of 50,000.

Evaly.com Ltd was registered on 14 May 2018 with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms. Its authorised capital is 5 lakh taka.

The company’s managing director Mohammad Rassel owns 1,000 shares worth 10 taka each. His wife and chairman of the company, Shamima Nasrin, owns 4,000 shares. Mohammad Rassel paid 10,000 taka of the paid-up capital and Shamima Nasrin paid Tk 40,000.

ask/zn