Speakers at a virtual discussion on Sunday said the government must intervene in Ponzi schemes like e-commerce platforms with its central power if certain regulators or ministries can't stop them to protect the sector.
They said no business entity except banks can hold the money of clients for an uncertain period of time.
The industry stakeholders and experts said holding Tk 50 to 60 billion by some 10 e-commerce platforms is not only a crisis for the business but also a national financial crisis.
The experts said as e-commerce is at a nascent stage in Bangladesh, so the sector requires special protection.
The government should formulate policies protecting local e-commerce platforms.
The speakers said it at a webinar organised by The Financial Express titled "Regulating the e-commerce industry: Prerequisite for ensuring sustainability".
FE Editor Shah Husain Imam delivered the opening speech at the webinar while Professor of Department of Economics & Senior Researce Fellow, BIGD Dr Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddiquee moderated the discussion.
Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director & CEO, Mutual Trust Bank,Barrister Tanjib Ul Alam, Head of Chamber, Tanjib Alam & Associates, Zia Ashraf, Director of International Affairs, E-commerce Association of Bangladesh & Co-founder, Chaldal Fahim Mashroor, Founder, Bdjobs and ajkerdeal.com, Fahim Ahmed, President, Pathao, Syed Yusuf Saadat, Senior Research Associate, CPD spoke as panelists.
