The number of visitors and purchase orders on the country's online marketplaces has risen significantly in recent days centring the Eid-ul-Fitr, insiders say.
They said the handling of e-commerce and virtual shops on the social media sites like Facebook (F-commerce) has spiked by an average 50 per cent customers, compared with the usual period.
Browsing the web pages, this correspondent found different types of attractive posts to attract buyers' attention with offers such as cash back, gift vouchers, bonus, free gift and raffle draw.
Senior executives of such digital commerce told the FE they have taken all-out preparations by increasing product stocks and the number of merchant partners.
Bangladesh's e-commerce market has become a good battle ground for the entrepreneurs, thanks to the huge population, increased internet penetration and comfort in virtual trading.
Daraz, Ajkerdeal, Pickaboo, Bagdoom and Othoba are among the leading names in e-commerce.
Contacted, Shayantani Twisha, spokesperson for Daraz Bangladesh Limited, told the FE they are providing up to 70 per cent discounts.
This includes co-sponsor brand partners' offers too, she added.
She said, "We welcome 0.2 million unique visitors on a usual day, which has tripled during the opening days of Ramadan, thanks to the offers made by various sponsor partners."
Even a customer can get discount over discounted price by using some banks' credit card while making payment, said Ms Twisha.
She said her company now commands around 60 per cent of the country's e-commerce business.
Responding to a question about the service quality, she said there are "negligible" incidents of complaints about the product.
"We give highest priority to redress any grievances," she added.
There many positives about e-commerce deals, such as the scope for buying from any place, fixed price, detailed product specification, product review by other buyers, digital payment, home delivery, etc.
Online marketplaces in the country now sell almost every kind of merchandise from apparels to vegetables and motorcycles to mobile phones.
Ahead of Eid, another fast-growing website Bagdoom has also widened its product range, said the company's chief executive officer (CEO) Mirajul Haque.
"The country's renowned apparel brands are selling their trendy Eid dresses using Bagdoom's platform, as we prefer promoting Bangladeshi brands," he said.
"We are offering up to 65 per cent discount on various products including Eid dresses, panjabi, three-piece, sharee, footwear and kids' dresses," he said.
General secretary of the E-commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) Abdul Wahed Tomal said the number of deals via virtual shopping malls has increased by 50 to 60 per cent during Ramadan.
Some 950 businesses are registered with the e-CAB, he said, adding the annual turnover in the sector is estimated to be over Tk 100 billion with the growth rate of above 30 per cent per year.
Nearly 0.1 million people are directly employed in e-commerce business, estimated Mr Tomal who provides online services through his own e-commerce business Comjagat.
Azim Adib, head of operations at othoba.com, said they have been seeing around 40 per cent increased product orders, which will rise in the coming days.
"Shopping for Eid has become e-commerce friendly nowadays, since you can purchase your products via websites at any point of time unlike traditional malls," he said.
Replying to a question, he said a customer should be aware about some rules and regulations for making a successful online purchase.
Besides large scale virtual marketplaces, there are several thousand businesses that operate using the social media sites like Facebook.
But there are complaints against many F-commerce operators for not delivering the product in time or providing substandard merchandise.
A private official Hosne Ara said she often buys ornaments and attires from some digital commerce operators.
She didn't get desired services from an F-commerce site, Hosne Ara said, adding though she has made over a hundred successful purchases.
"I made advance payment for an ornament set weeks ago, but the seller didn't deliver the product yet, nor refunded the money," she said.
Industry insiders suggested customers should not make advance payment while dealing with businesses that have not gained customers' confidence
E-CAB leader Wahed Tomal suggested customers make complaint via the website-e-cab.net.
