The government is set to launch a central complaint management system (CCMS) tomorrow (February 19) for bringing discipline in the crisis-ridden e-commerce sector.
The authorities concerned have already completed preparations to launch the CCMS, developed by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division.
The system will act as a platform for receiving all complaints and will address each complaint within 10 working days.
The CCMS will be launched through a programme with Ministry of Commerce (MoC) Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh in the chair.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and ICT Division State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak are expected to attend the event as the chief guest and the special guest respectively.
The e-commerce entities will be connected with the CCMS for operating their business in the country. It will be added to the National Identity Card server to foil filing of false complaints, said officials.
The customers will be able to lodge complaints against the companies using different options including facebook, they added.
Currently, the government agencies are working to bring discipline in the e-commerce sector. The government has taken multiple steps following scandals by various platforms such as Evaly, E-orange, Dhamaka Shopping, Sirajganj Shop, etc.
It has also introduced the Digital Business Identification (DBID) system. The e-commerce companies will not be able to run their business without obtaining the identification certificate from the authority concerned.
The DBID holders can claim various facilities from the government, while it will be able to oversee and monitor activities of the entities.
The amount of clients' stuck-up funds with 27 troubled online shopping companies was Tk 5.25 billion, as per the central bank data.
The MoC started refunding affected clients of the e-commerce firms in January 2022. Thirteen such companies returned more than Tk 3.49 billion to 48,643 clients until February 16, 2023, according to the ministry.
More than a dozen of e-marketplaces are yet to start refunding their customers.
The MoC hoped that the remaining amount would also be refunded to the customers concerned in the next couple of months.
There are some 2,500 digital commerce firms in the country, according to the ministry, of which 1,609 are under the e-CAB.
