Home ministry, 5 govt agencies to look into Evaly irregularities

The Ministry of Commerce wants the home ministry and five government agencies to take necessary action look into the online activities of e-commerce platform Evaly, according to commerce ministry sources.

Other than home ministry, Bangladesh Bank (BB), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and National Board of Revenue (NBR) have been asked or requested to join the investigation of financial transactions and other online activities of Evaly.

Earlier, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) and Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) were asked to investigate Evaly.

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

An official of the commerce ministry under the condition of anonymity said the six government ministries and agencies will investigate the business activities of e-commerce platform Evaly to find if it violated any their laws.

After receiving reports from home ministry and the agencies, a workshop will take place to formulate a fresh e-commerce regulation, official also said.

Six letters were served to the agencies and home ministry signed by the Deputy Secretary of Commerce Ministry SM Rafiqul Islam.

However, the letter did not mention a deadline to finish their investigation.

In the letter to ACC, commerce ministry said the authorized capital of Evaly was 5 lakh taka.

After receiving 90 lakh taka loan from Dhaka Bank’s Konabari branch on February 11, 2019, its authorized capital was increased to 1 crore taka.

Besides, ACC will also investigate the allegation of fraud by Evaly by not providing products to its clients on time under ACC law 2004, the letter said.

The letter to DNCRP said, it is alleged that Evaly did not deliver products to its clients within 15 days after receiving orders, rather delivery time was extended to two months, which is a violation of DNCRP law.

The letter also mentioned that customers who purchased products from Evaly designated shops received money or cashback from the sold products, which is also a violation of CRPD law. 

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 cashback offers going up to 80 to 150 percent.

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

Evaly.com Ltd was registered on 14 May 2018 with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms.